SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — September 29 marked World Heart Day, a global effort to raise awareness about cardiovascular health and the early signs of heart disease. San Diego cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Alexandra Kharazi says the day is an important reminder that heart disease often doesn’t look like what people expect.
“We all picture this ‘Hollywood heart attack’—someone clutching their chest and collapsing to the ground,” Dr. Kharazi explained. “That image is really misleading. Heart disease can present in so many different ways.”
According to Dr. Kharazi, early symptoms often go unnoticed, especially in women and people living with diabetes. Instead of severe chest pain, patients may experience what doctors call atypical symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual fatigue
- Dizziness
- Jaw, neck, or back pain
- A general feeling of being unwell
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