Heart attack symptoms in women are more subtle than those in men. In fact, almost two-thirds of women who die unexpectedly from cardiovascular diseases have experienced no symptoms.
Because of the subtle or sometimes nonexistent symptoms of a heart attack in women, these patients are less likely to seek care at the emergency department. Don’t let embarrassment about a potential false alarm keep you from getting life-saving treatment.
What’s the difference between “signs” and “symptoms?"
• Signs are objective indications of illness that the patient or others can observe, such as shortness of breath or vomiting.
• Symptoms — nausea or a feeling of pressure in the chest, for example — can only be reported by the person experiencing them.
Women may observe these warning signs of a heart attack:
Heart attack symptoms in women include:
Men and women have many heart attack symptoms in common, but women are more likely to experience back or jaw pain, nausea and vomiting, and breathing difficulties.
Symptoms may start slowly and worsen over hours, days, or weeks before a heart attack.
If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 right away.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) arises when the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart, become narrowed by deposits of cholesterol. Symptoms of diseased or damaged coronary arteries may include:
A complete blockage of a coronary artery may trigger a heart attack.
Heart disease is the Number 1 killer of women, which is why it’s vital that women learn the warning signs and symptoms, see their physician regularly, and know their family history.
