Introduction Heart attack, a worldwide phenomenon, remains one of the leading causes of mortality among adults. In Malaysia, it accounts for 17.0% out of 109,155 medically confirmed deaths. This condition can occur suddenly or may be preceded by pre-heart attack symptoms that appear several hours or even days before the event. It is essential for individuals to recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, which include chest pain, light-headedness, fainting, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue, to ensure they can seek immediate medical attention. This study aims to assess the level of public awareness regarding the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and determine the relationship between this awareness and demographic factors.

Methods A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted among 113 members of the general public at Sabah Heart Centre. The sampling method used was simple random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS version 26.

Results This study revealed that the majority of the public (70.8%, n = 80) are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. However, there is a notable lack of awareness regarding discomfort in the jaw, neck, and back, sudden lethargy, and sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes (all < 70%). A significant relationship was also reported between age and the level of awareness (p = 0.009).

Discussion Timely reperfusion therapy for heart attack victims is critical to improve survival rates. The results of this study are consistent with previous research, which identified poor awareness of heart attack signs and symptoms as a contributing factor to delayed treatment and higher mortality rates. Notably, respondents were aware that chest pain is a symptom. However, they were less familiar with other key symptoms. This suggests that more effective health education programs are required to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Hence, digital platforms and social media are recommended as effective channels to disseminate information related to heart health to all segments of the population.

Conclusion Nearly 30% of the respondents exhibited poor awareness of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Therefore, efforts to enhance awareness should be expanded through multiple channels, including mass media, community outreach events, healthcare provider education, and digital platforms.