Heart surgeon explains the ‘biggest red flag’ that you may have heart disease

Dr Jeremy London, a heart surgeon with more than 750,000 followers on TikTok, has shared the key warning signs of heart disease

A leading heart surgeon has warned about critical symptoms that should never be overlooked if you’re concerned about heart disease. Dr Jeremy London, who boasts over 750,000 followers on TikTok, has been drawing attention to warning signs that could be a sign of severe cardiac problems.

In a video that’s gone viral, he revealed the “biggest red flag” of the condition – and it might catch you off guard. “The first one is the biggest red flag and that is chest pain or more commonly chest pressure,” he said.

Dr Jeremy clarifies that discomfort “brought on with activity and relieved with rest” may suggest part of the heart is being deprived of oxygen, a condition known as angina resulting from coronary artery disease.

Experts say this form of pain is frequently brought on by stress or physical effort, and can present as squeezing or pressure that may spread to the arms, neck, or jaw. The doctor’s second warning is worsening breathlessness when doing physical activity, which shouldn’t be written off as simply being “out of shape.”

He also highlights abnormal tiredness or an abrupt decline in exercise capacity. This might manifest as difficulty completing routine activities like taking the bins out or crossing a car park, reports the Mirror.

Medical authorities emphasise that heart disease continues to be a significant health challenge, with coronary heart disease ranking among the primary causes of heart attacks and hospital admissions. Studies on cardiovascular disease indicators reveal that chest pain frequently manifests as pressure or discomfort and may be accompanied by breathlessness.

MedlinePlus highlights that unexplained breathlessness could indicate heart failure or diminished cardiac function. Dr London’s concluding advice is unambiguous: “Our bodies have built in warning systems. The key is that you respond to them before you get into trouble,” emphasising how swift recognition and immediate medical care can be life-saving.

“I thought I just wasn’t fit enough, turns out I needed two valves replaced. Good as gold now,” one viewer remarked, whilst another shared: “I have all of these.”

A third responded: “Urgh, I need to see a cardiologist,” whilst a fourth confessed: “I had all of these for two years but doctors said there was nothing was wrong, then I had a heart attack.”