In recent decades, scientists have realized that heart attack
symptoms can be quite different for women than for men. The journal
Circulation published the findings of a multicenter study of 515
women who’d experienced a heart attack. The most frequently reported
symptoms didn’t include chest pain. Instead, women reported unusual
fatigue, sleep disturbances, and anxiety. Nearly 80 percent reported
experiencing at least one symptom for more than a month before their
heart attack. In a survey published in the journal Circulation, only
65 percent of women said they’d call 911 if they thought they might be having a heart attack.
Symptoms of a heart attack in women include:
Woman having a pain in the heart area. Heart Attack. Painful Chest.
Health Care, Medical Concept. High Resolution. Woman having heart attack at home
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Even if you’re not sure, get emergency care right away. Base your decision
on what feels normal and abnormal for you. If you haven’t experienced
symptoms like this before, don’t hesitate to get help.
If you don’t agree with your doctor’s conclusion, get a second opinion.
Unusual fatigue lasting for several days or sudden severe fatigue
Sad tired young woman touching forehead having headache migraine or depression,
upset frustrated girl troubled with problem feel stressed cover crying face with hand suffer from grief sorrow concept
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Profound and unexplained fatigue or a sudden decrease in energy levels
can sometimes be a warning sign of a heart attack in women.
Sleep disturbances
Young woman lying in bed suffering from sound covering head and ears with
pillow making unpleasant face. early wake up not getting enough sleep
Credit: Shutterstock
Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, unusual restlessness, or waking
up frequently during the night, have been reported as warning signs in some women prior to a heart attack.
Anxiety
Sad depressed woman at home sitting on the couch, looking down and touching her forehead, loneliness and pain concept
Some women may experience a sense of impending doom, anxiety,
or a feeling that something is terribly wrong during a heart attack.
Lightheadedness
Woman With Vertigo
Feeling dizzy or faint is another symptom that may occur during a heart attack.
Shortness of breath
Older woman at home doing fitness has severe shortness of breath and chest pain, compares bullets on fitness bracelets
Feeling breathless or having difficulty catching your breath can be a symptom of a heart attack. This may occur with or without chest discomfort.
Indigestion or gas-like pain
Sick young African American woman having health problems holding head and belly
during menstruation. Black girl lying in living room on couch suffering from pain associated with gynecological causes
Some women may feel nauseated or may vomit during a heart attack, which can be mistaken for other gastrointestinal issues.
Cold Sweats
Cold sweat. Low angle of beautiful mature woman sweating and carrying glass of water
Cold and clammy skin, along with sweating, can accompany a heart attack, especially in women.
Jaw pain or pain that spreads up to your jaw
Hurt senior female worker in glasses feel stressed suffering from
severe toothache at workplace, unhappy aged woman employee in glasses feel bad stressed having teeth pain, need dental treatment
Women may experience pain or discomfort in areas other than the chest,
such as the neck, jaw, shoulder, back, or stomach. This pain may radiate from the chest and is often a more subtle symptom.
Pressure or pain in the center of your chest, which may spread to your arm
pain in chest
While chest pain is a common symptom in both men and women,
women may experience different types of chest discomfort.
It can be described as a squeezing, fullness, pressure, or burning sensation in the chest that may come and go.
Heart attack in women over 50
Senior Woman Suffering From Chest Pain While Sitting On Bench
Women experience significant physical changes around age 50, the age when many
women start to go through menopause. During this period of life,
your levels of the hormone estrogen drop. Estrogen is believed to
help protect the health of your heart. After menopause, your risk of
heart attack increases. Unfortunately, women who experience a heart
attack are less likely to survive than men. Therefore, it becomes even
more important to remain conscious of your heart health after you go through menopause.
Remain aware of these symptoms and schedule regular health checkups with your doctor.
There are additional symptoms of a heart attack that women over the age of 50 may experience. These symptoms include:
severe chest pain
pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
rapid or irregular heartbeat
sweating
Silent heart attack symptoms
Young woman suffering from breathing problem near window indoors
A silent heart attack is like any other heart attack, except it occurs without
the usual symptoms. In other words, you may not even realize you’ve experienced a heart attack.
In fact, research from Duke University Medical Center has estimated that as many as 200,000
Americans experience heart attacks each year without even knowing it. Unfortunately, these
events cause heart damage and increase the risk of future attacks. Silent heart attacks
are more common among people with diabetes and in those who’ve had previous heart attacks.
Symptoms that may indicate a silent heart attack include:
old age, health problem and people concept – close up of senior woman suffering from heartache at home
mild discomfort in your chest, arms, or jaw that goes away after resting
shortness of breath and tiring easily
sleep disturbances and increased fatigue
abdominal pain or heartburn
skin clamminess
After having a silent heart attack, you may experience more fatigue than before
or find that exercise becomes more difficult. Get regular physical exams
to stay on top of your heart health. If you have cardiac risk factors,
talk to your doctor about getting tests done to check the condition of your heart.
