New research reveals dangerous gaps in heart health awareness, Myocarditis UK
As the UK marks Heart Month, new research has revealed widespread confusion about a potentially serious heart condition and worrying complacency around symptoms that could signal a heart problem.
A national survey of 2,000 UK adults, commissioned by Myocarditis UK, found that 61% of people do not know what myocarditis is, with fewer than four in ten (39%) correctly identifying it as inflammation of the heart muscle. One in three adults (33%) said they had no
idea what myocarditis was at all.
The findings raise concerns that people may be failing to recognise when symptoms are serious and require urgent medical attention.
The Censuswide research also revealed troubling attitudes towards common heart warning signs. Between 6% and 11% of adults said they would never seek medical advice for symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, heart palpitations or extreme fatigue, while a further proportion said they were unsure how they would respond.
In detail:
- 5.9% said they would never seek medical help for chest pain or tightness
- 7.5% would never seek advice for shortness of breath
- 6.4% would never seek help for a rapid or irregular heartbeat
- 10.8% would never seek medical advice for extreme or unusual fatigue
Myocarditis can affect people of all ages including young, fit and otherwise healthy adults. Whilst many cases are mild, others can lead to long-term heart damage, heart failure or sudden cardiac events if not diagnosed early. Despite this, symptoms are often dismissed as anxiety, stress or a viral illness, increasing the risk of delayed diagnosis and prolonged recovery.
Myocarditis UK says the findings highlight a dangerous awareness gap during Heart Month, when people are being encouraged to take their heart health seriously. Andy Jansons, Chair of Myocarditis UK, said:
“Heart Month is about listening to your heart, yet this research shows that more than six in ten adults don’t even know what myocarditis is, and some would ignore symptoms like chest pain or breathlessness altogether. If people don’t recognise when something is wrong, they may delay seeking help and that can have life-changing consequences.”
The charity is urging anyone experiencing unexplained chest pain, breathlessness, palpitations or extreme fatigue, particularly following a viral infection, to seek medical advice and not dismiss symptoms as ‘just stress’ or ‘a bug’.
When it’s not ‘just stress’
Don’t ignore these heart symptoms.
Myocarditis UK is urging anyone experiencing the following symptoms to seek medical advice, particularly if symptoms appear suddenly or follow a viral infection:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid, irregular or “fluttering” heartbear (palpatations)
- Extreme or unusual fatigue
- Dizziness or fainting
Warning: New research shows that up to one in ten UK adults would never seek
medical help for some of these symptoms despite them being associated with serious heart
conditions, including myocarditis.
If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and get it checked.
The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2000 UK Natrep (aged 16+). The data was collected between 26/01/26 – 28/01/26. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. Censuswide adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles