IU Health cardiologist urges quick action on heart attack symptoms during American Heart Month

Written from information provided by IU Health

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — February 7, 2026

As part of American Heart Month, an IU Health Bloomington cardiologist is encouraging people to learn both the common and lesser-known warning signs of a heart attack — and to seek emergency care immediately if they suspect one.

“Time is muscle,” said Dr. Joan Crawford, DO, a cardiologist with IU Health Bloomington. “If you even think you’re having a heart attack, present to the emergency room immediately,” Crawford said in an IU Health article shared with The Bloomingtonian.

Symptoms can look different — especially for women

Crawford said recognizing a heart attack is more than watching for the classic signs such as chest pain and left-arm discomfort. She emphasized that women are less likely to experience the widely recognized symptoms, and that delays in seeking care can lead to worse outcomes.

“The average woman has more heart failure and more problems from heart attacks because an average female often takes up to 12 hours to decide to go to the hospital,” Crawford said in the article.

Crawford said women’s symptoms are more likely to include subtle or less familiar signs, such as:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations
• Pain or discomfort between the lower rib cage and belly button
• Pain where a bra strap would go, in the neck, or in the right shoulder

“Shortness of breath, palpitations, exhaustion, napping more, not being able to do what you could do the previous season, just feeling out of sorts … are signs something could be wrong,” Crawford said, adding that it may not feel like severe pain, but more like “you just know something’s wrong.”

Crawford encouraged patients — especially women — to advocate for themselves if they feel something is off and to call 911 or get to the nearest emergency department quickly. Prompt treatment can restore blood flow, reduce heart muscle damage, and improve survival, she said.

Reducing risk factors

Crawford also pointed to everyday steps that can lower heart attack risk, stressing what she called “risk factor modification.”

That includes regular exercise — about 150 minutes per week — along with improving sleep, cutting back on sodium and unhealthy fats, limiting processed foods, and addressing habits such as nicotine use and excessive alcohol consumption.

Among the tips highlighted in the IU Health article:

• Aim for 7 hours of sleep nightly and address snoring or sleep apnea
• Eat more fruits and vegetables (3–4 servings daily)
• Reduce sodium (less than 2,000 mg/day) and limit red meat and processed foods
• Read nutrition labels and watch dietary fat intake
• Build time for stress reduction, fresh air, and healthy relationships

Crawford encouraged people to talk with their primary care provider about heart-healthy steps tailored to their needs.

Editor’s note: This story is based on information IU Health shared with The Bloomingtonian, including an IU Health article featuring Bloomington cardiologist Dr. Joan Crawford, DO.

The post IU Health cardiologist urges quick action on heart attack symptoms during American Heart Month first appeared on The Bloomingtonian.