Heart Attack in Women: 6 Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, is a medical emergency and occurs when the flow of blood that supplies oxygen to your heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked. During a heart attack, the heart does not get enough oxygen and if blood flow is not restored soon, the heart muscle begins to fail.

Heart attacks are common and over 800,000 people in the United States suffer a heart attack each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
What Is a Heart Attack?

Go to source).

A heart attack differs from cardiac arrest, which occurs when your heart abruptly and unexpectedly stops beating. A heart attack can result in abrupt cardiac arrest.

What are the Symptoms of Heart Attack?

Many people believe that the warning signs of a heart attack are sudden, such as in a movie where someone clutches their chest and collapses. However, in reality, a heart attack may seem and feel extremely different. Although the symptoms of a heart attack are more or less similar for everyone, women are more prone than men to experience non-traditional symptoms of heart attack.

Advertisement

Top 6 Symptoms of Women’s Heart Attack

When a heart attack occurs, women's symptoms differ from those of males. Women do not often have the same classic heart attack symptoms as males, such as crushing chest pain that spreads down one arm. They may be more likely to have symptoms like weariness and sleep difficulties in the weeks preceding a heart attack. According to an older 2003 study of 515 women who suffered a heart attack, 80% of them had at least one symptom at least four weeks before the event(2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Heart attack symptoms

Go to source).

Women can experience heart attack symptoms, but many have mild or even "silent" symptoms that they may not notice. Also, they have a worse survival rate after a heart attack than men(3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Women's Early Warning Symptoms of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Go to source).

The following six heart attack symptoms are typical in women:

1. Chest Pain or Discomfort

The most common sign of a heart attack is chest tightness(4^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Coronary artery disease: Learn More - Signs of a heart attack

Go to source), although women may experience it differently than males. It may feel like squeezing or fullness, and the pain can occur anywhere in the chest, not just on the left side. A heart attack is frequently "truly uncomfortable".

Advertisement

2. Upper Body Pain

You may experience pain in your arm(s), back, neck, or jaw. This form of pain is more prevalent in women than in men. It may perplex women who expect their pain to be limited to their chest and left arm, rather than their back or jaw. The pain might be gradual or abrupt, and it may grow and wane before becoming severe. If you are sleeping, it can wake you up. Any "not typical or unexplained" symptoms in any portion of your body above your waist should be reported to your doctor or another health care practitioner.

3. Stomach Ache

Some women may experience stomach pain or pressure before having a heart attack. People sometimes confuse this stomach pain that indicates a heart attack with heartburn, the flu, or a stomach ulcer. Other digestive symptoms related to a potential heart attack may include indigestion, nausea, and vomiting.

4. Shortness of Breath, Nausea, and Lightheadedness

Shortness of breath or heavy breathing without activity, particularly when accompanied by exhaustion or chest pain, may indicate a heart attack. Some women may experience difficulty breathing while lying down, but the problem improves when they sit upright. It can feel like you have run a marathon, despite having done a move.

Advertisement

5. Sweating

Women experiencing a heart attack frequently break out in an anxious, chilly sweat. It will feel more like stress sweating than perspiration caused by exercise or being outside in the heat. It is advisable to seek medical treatment if you don't usually sweat like that and there's no other explanation, such as heat or hot flushes.

6. Fatigue

Unusual weariness is commonly observed in the weeks preceding a heart attack. The woman may also feel fatigued just before the event. Even simple actions that may not involve much effort can result in feelings of exhaustion. Patients frequently complain of fatigue in the chest. Simple activities, like walking to the bathroom, may feel tough.

Not everyone experiences all of these symptoms. If you experience chest pain, especially if you also have one or more of the other symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Heart Attack in Women After Menopause

The risk of heart attack increases as estrogen levels fall after menopause(5^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Menopause and women's cardiovascular health: is it really an obvious relationship?

Go to source).

Postmenopausal heart attack symptoms include:

• Pain or discomfort in arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Rapid or irregular heartbeats
• Acute chest discomfort
• Unexplained and excessive perspiration without activity

Risk Factors for Heart Attack in Women

Risk factors for a heart attack in women include:

• Age: People who are 55 years or older are more likely to have a heart attack(6^✔ ✔Trusted Source
  Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Understanding Symptoms and Risk Factors
  
  Go to source). This could be because hormones offer some protection against heart disease before menopause.
• Family History: Individuals with a male relative who had a heart attack by the age of 55 or a female relative who had one by the age of 65 are said to have a family history of heart attacks and are at a higher risk.
• Underlying Medical conditions: Certain markers, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, increase the risk of heart attack in both men and women. Diabetes, obesity, and autoimmune illnesses are all risk factors for heart attacks. Endometriosis, PCOS, and a history of preeclampsia during pregnancy all raise the risk(7^✔ ✔Trusted Source
  Endometriosis and cardiovascular disease: a population-based cohort study
  
  Go to source).
• Lifestyle choices: Using tobacco or stimulant substances, such as cocaine or amphetamines, leading a sedentary lifestyle, or experiencing high amounts of stress all raise the risk of a heart attack.

First Aid for Women’s Heart Attack at Home

Don't wait to seek help if you think you are suffering a heart attack. Women generally wait longer than men before going to the emergency room. Even if you believe your symptoms are minor and will resolve on their own, waiting is too hazardous.

Do not drive yourself to the hospital. You need an ambulance. If you drive, you risk getting into a crash and injuring yourself or someone else. Don't let a friend or relative drive you, either. You might not get there soon enough.

Do not reject your feelings. Don't worry about feeling silly if you are wrong. Seeking medical assistance immediately is crucial.

If someone around you has had a heart attack and stops breathing before emergency personnel arrive, perform manual chest compressions:

• Fingers should be locked together, with the base of the hands at the center of the chest.
• Position your shoulders over your hands with your elbows locked.
• Press hard and fast to a depth of 2 inches, using 100 to 120 compressions each minute.
• Continue these actions until the individual begins to breathe or move.
• If necessary, swap with someone else without interrupting compressions.

Prevention Tips for Better Heart Health in Women

Here are a few things that every woman could do for better heart health:

• Going for frequent health check-ups.
• Taking steps to address other health issues, such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.
• Quit smoking if required, and avoid all forms of tobacco. Heart disease risk is reduced by 50% just 12 months after quitting smoking(8^✔ ✔Trusted Source
  Tobacco smoking; Health impact, prevalence, correlates and interventions
  
  Go to source).
• Losing weight for people who are overweight.
• Participating in at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity daily, such as walking.
• Eating a well-balanced diet and, if necessary, consulting a dietician for nutritional assistance.
• Reducing stress levels.
• Getting sufficient sleep.
• Limiting alcohol use and avoiding stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines.

A heart attack is a dangerous, potentially fatal medical event that necessitates immediate care. Females tend to have distinct heart attack symptoms than males. They have additional risk factors.

People can take a variety of steps to lower their risk of a heart attack. Awareness of heart attack symptoms, particularly in the weeks preceding the event, can also improve outcomes and reduce complications.