SAN DIEGO – San Diego cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Alexandra Kharazi is urging residents to be aware of frequently enough-overlooked early warning signs of heart disease, especially as World Heart Day was observed on September 29.
dr. Kharazi explained that the common perception of a ”Hollywood heart attack”-sudden, dramatic chest pain-is misleading.”Heart disease can present in so many different ways,” she said.
Early symptoms are frequently subtle and can be easily dismissed, especially in women and individuals with diabetes. These atypical symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual fatigue
- Dizziness
- Jaw, neck, or back pain
- A general feeling of being unwell
“I’ve even had patients say they just don’t feel right or that their energy levels are lower every day,” Dr. Kharazi noted. “That’s why it’s so vital to listen to yoru body and share these changes with your doctor.”
She stressed that heart screenings shouldn’t be postponed until later in life. While general guidelines exist, individual risk factors-including family history, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and lifestyle choices-should inform the timing of testing. “One of my friends was just 29 years old when she was diagnosed with high cholesterol, even though she was active and appeared healthy,” Dr. Kharazi said. “The takeaway is that everyone is different, and having that conversation with your primary care doctor about when to start screening is key.”
Screenings can involve routine blood work, echocardiograms, stress tests, and other evaluations tailored to a patient’s specific risk profile.
Dr. Kharazi encourages San Diegans to use World heart Day as a prompt to proactively address their cardiovascular health. ”The big risk factors we look at are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and family history. Knowing where you stand can help you prevent heart disease before it becomes life-threatening,” she stated.
