Heart attack: Study reveals 12 symptoms that appear 1 month before the event

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 17.9 million lives each year and more than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes.

A heart attack is often referred to as a 'silent killer'. This is because it does not show any symptoms and kills without a warning. Many people who're at risk often are unaware that they even have the disease, which is what makes it so dangerous.

But while many believe heart attacks come with no signs, a recent study claims otherwise.

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As against popular belief, the survey, published in the Journal Circulation, found that a heart attack can be preceded by a number of warning signs.

The research involved more than 500 women who had survived a heart attack.

95 percent of the total participants said that they noticed something wasn't right in the month or so before their heart attacks.

While 71 percent reported fatigue as a common symptom, 48 percent said that they experienced disturbed sleep.

Others experienced tiredness and said that they could not make a bed without resting.

Some women also noticed chest pain, describing it as pressure, aching, or tightness in the chest, not pain.

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Here's a complete list of the symptoms experienced by the women a month before the heart attack:

- Unusual fatigue

- Sleep disturbance

- Shortness of breath

- Indigestion

- Anxiety

- Heart racing

- Arms weak/heavy

- Changes in thinking or memory

- Vision change

- Loss of appetite

- Hands/arms tingling

- Difficulty breathing at night.

When it comes to heart health, one of the common mistakes people make is taking the subtle signs of a heart attack lightly. This is because most of the symptoms listed above may be misunderstood with something benign.

The key is to get regular heart screenings and medical check ups. Get your blood pressure checked regularly, if you have diabetes, get your sugar levels checked frequently and also get tested for high cholesterol. These are illnesses that can increase your risk of a heart attack.

Anybody can be prone to a heart attack. However, being obese, having a high blood pressure or a high cholesterol, diabetes, being a smoker or drinker can increase your risk of sudden cardiac complications.

That said, it is important to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Eat a healthy, balanced diet that is nutritious and low in processed, oily and sugary foods.

Exercise regularly, keep to a healthy weight, regulate your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

If you're a drinker or a smoker, quit or cut down on them slowly.

In case you develop symptoms of heart attack, contact your nearest hospital asking for immediate medical attention.

If a person suffers from a sudden heart attack and finds it difficult to breathe, begin a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to maintain or restore the blood flow in the body.

According to the experts at Mayo Clinic, CPR involves chest compressions (100 - 120 per minute). The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says if CPR is performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, it can double or triple a person's chance of survival.