Unusual Heart Attack Symptoms: A Cardiologist’s Insight

Recognizing Atypical Heart Attack Symptoms

Dr. Kaustubh Dabhadkar, a preventive cardiologist from Charlotte, North Carolina, highlights the importance of recognizing unusual symptoms that might suggest a heart issue. While typical symptoms like chest pressure extending to the arm or jaw are well-known, atypical symptoms are often overlooked and hard to diagnose.

In a 2025 study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, it was found that more than 99% of patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, or stroke had at least one risk factor like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevated blood sugar, or smoking.

Anecdotal Evidence and Referrals

Dr. Dabhadkar shared an anecdote on his Threads account, recalling a case as a cardiology fellow when a patient with an earache was experiencing a heart attack. An EKG confirmed a major artery was closing, with pain referred to the ear lobe, providing a stark example of an unusual symptom.

EKG, or electrocardiogram, assesses a heartbeat by recording the heart’s electrical signals, which aids in diagnosing heart attacks and irregularities.

Understanding Referred Pain

Referred pain occurs when heart nerves end at the same spinal junction as other body parts, like chest and shoulders, causing the brain to misinterpret the pain’s origin. Symptoms like cold sweats or unexplained moods could also indicate heart problems.

Awareness and Prevention

Dabhadkar emphasizes the need for awareness of unusual heart attack symptoms, noting that a third of heart attack patients experience no chest pain, with younger individuals under 65 more likely to report chest pain compared to those over 85.

He stresses that new unexplained symptoms, worsening with activity and improving with rest, could warrant an EKG. Although unusual symptoms like ear lobes shouldn’t universally signal heart attacks, he advises caution, preferring to address false alarms over missing a legitimate heart attack.