What symptoms indicate my heart condition requires urgent evaluation?

The following symptoms warrant immediate evaluation:

• Chest pain or pressure (may radiate to arm, jaw, or back)
• Shortness of breath at rest, on minimal exertion, or when lying flat
• Fatigue or decreased exercise capacity
• Palpitations, irregular heartbeat, or fainting episodes
• Ankle swelling or sudden weight gain from fluid retention

If these are new, severe, or worsening, you should seek urgent care. Sometimes patients adapt slowly to symptoms and don’t realize how sick they are until significant damage has occurred. That’s why regular imaging and clinical follow-up are essential.