Heart Attack Symptoms in Women: Know the Signs
Sep 04
When you picture a heart attack, you may imagine someone suddenly clutching their chest and collapsing. While a heart attack can happen that way, the warning signs are not always so dramatic, especially for women.
Knowing what to watch for and taking symptoms seriously can save a life.
Heart Attack Symptoms Aren’t Always Obvious
Chest pain or discomfort is the most common heart attack symptom for both women and men. But heart attacks can also begin with symptoms that are milder or easier to mistake for something else.
Women experiencing a heart attack may have symptoms such as:
- Pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the chest
- Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
- Pain or discomfort in the back, neck, jaw, shoulder, stomach or one or both arms
- Nausea or vomiting
- Indigestion or heartburn-like discomfort
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Cold sweats
- Unusual or extreme fatigue
Some symptoms can come and go or develop gradually rather than appearing all at once.
Why Knowing the Signs Matters
Because some heart attack symptoms can resemble indigestion, stress, the flu or other less serious conditions, they can be easy to dismiss.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, and it can affect women at any age. Understanding your personal risk factors and recognizing potential warning signs are important parts of protecting your heart health.
Risk factors for heart disease can include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity, family history and other health and lifestyle factors.
Regular preventive care gives you an opportunity to talk with your healthcare provider about your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, family history and other factors that may affect your cardiovascular health.
A Woman’s Experience With a Heart Attack
Sometimes a personal story can make the warning signs easier to understand.
Bronzecomm recently shared the story of a woman whose heart attack did not begin with the dramatic chest pain she expected. Instead, she initially experienced a sensation resembling indigestion. It was followed by unusual squeezing sensations and eventually pressure beneath her breastbone that traveled into her jaw.
Her experience is an important reminder that a heart attack may not always look or feel the way we expect.
[Read “This Is What a Woman’s Heart Attack Really Feels Like”]
The linked article reflects an individual’s personal experience and should not be considered medical advice.
Don’t Wait if Something Feels Wrong
If you think you or someone else may be experiencing a heart attack, call 911 immediately.
Every minute matters. Emergency medical professionals can begin evaluating and treating a possible heart attack before you arrive at the hospital. Do not wait for symptoms to become severe or attempt to diagnose the problem yourself.
Knowing the warning signs is important, but so is knowing your own health.
Talk with your healthcare provider about your heart health, your individual risk factors and steps you can take to help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Need a healthcare provider? HealthCore Clinic provides comprehensive primary and preventive care for women at every stage of life. Schedule an appointment today!