Heart Attack Symptoms in Women

Women often assume heart attacks come with dramatic chest pain, but that’s not always the case. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S., so yes, women do get heart attacks and must recognize the symptoms. However, female heart attack victims often describe subtler or different warning signs than men’s. Experts point out that heart attack symptoms in women are easy to overlook. Being vigilant for any unusual discomfort, even if it's not a "textbook" of heart pain, is essential.

What Are the Signs of a Heart Attack in Women?

Women also experience some of the same traditional heart attack symptoms as men but may also have others or different symptoms. For women, the most typical heart attack symptom is still pressure or discomfort in the chest, and it might be mild (such as squeezing or fullness) and not sharp pain.

Some of the other symptoms may include:

Upper body discomfort
Shortness of breath
Cold sweat, nausea or dizziness
Unusual fatigue or anxiety

Most women believe only crushing chest pain indicates a heart attack, but that is not the case. Practically, physicians advise that any combination of these symptoms in women would warrant a heart attack. Regarding heart attack symptoms in women, it's best to err on the side of caution.

Early Warning Signs of a Heart Attack in Women

Heart attacks in women aren't necessarily a surprise attack. Women can have warning signs days or even weeks before a full-fledged heart attack. These subtle early signs of a heart attack in women matter. Before the usual pain, a woman can have:

Extreme fatigue
Sleep disturbances
Mild indigestion or nausea
Shortness of breath or lightheadedness

Anxiety or panic-like symptoms

Keep in mind, early warning signs of a heart attack in women can be far removed from the stereotyped vision of a man grasping his chest. By being aware of these early warning signs, women can get help earlier, which can save their heart muscle and lives.

What Are the Symptoms of a Heart Attack in Women?

If a full-fledged heart attack does happen to a woman, its symptoms tend to be a combination of the expected and unusual symptoms. Besides the early warning signs mentioned above, women need to look out for:

Chest pain or discomfort

Radiating pain (jaw, back, arms)

Shortness of breath

Cold sweat or dizziness

Nausea and vomiting

What Triggers Heart Attacks in Women?

Women’s heart attacks are typically the result of decreased blood flow to the heart muscle, but the reasons why differ. The most prevalent cause of heart attack in women is coronary artery disease (CAD) – fat and cholesterol deposits accumulate in the arteries and ultimately stop blood from passing through.

Common risk factors include:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Obesity
Smoking
Sedentary lifestyle

Women share some challenges that are unique to them:

1. Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD): A spontaneous tear in the coronary artery wall, resulting in a heart attack. It disproportionately affects women, particularly during or shortly after pregnancy.

2. Stress (Takotsubo) Cardiomyopathy: Also known as "broken heart syndrome," it mimics a heart attack but is triggered by emotional or physical stress.

3. Hormonal Causes: Estrogen protects the heart. When estrogen levels decline after menopause, the risk of a heart attack in women increases sharply.

4. Pregnancy Complications: Conditions like pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes increase long-term cardiovascular risk.

Why Women’s Heart Attack Symptoms Are Missed.

Sadly, women’s heart attacks are more likely than men’s to be overlooked or misdiagnosed. There are several reasons for this:

Non-classic symptoms: Atypical symptoms, such as fatigue or nausea, can mask a heart attack.

Smaller arteries: Microvascular disease is harder to detect on common tests.

Bias and lack of awareness: Women and even clinicians may not associate symptoms with cardiac problems.

Training gaps: Many physicians are not fully trained in recognizing women’s heart attack symptoms early.

What You Can Do.

In short, if you are a woman and notice any warning symptom, don't hesitate to say, "I may be having a heart attack." Timely treatment can preserve your heart muscle and your life. Keep in mind that our staff at the Narayana hospital are available 24/7. We are concerned about women's heart health and will treat your symptoms seriously.

Schedule a consultation today with Narayana Health for expert guidance and care! Call us @08068617735