Heart disease is thought by some to be more difficult for men. However, it is the most common cause of death for women and men in the United States. Some heart disease symptoms in women are different than in men, so women may not know what to look for.
Heart attack symptoms in women
The most common symptoms of a heart attack in women are the same as in men – chest pain, pressure, and discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes.
But chest pain is not always strong or even the most noticeable symptom, especially in women. Women describe the pain of a heart attack as pressure and pressure. It is also possible to have a heart attack without chest pain.
Women are more likely than men to have symptoms of a heart attack that are not related to chest pain, such as:
Discomfort in the neck, jaw, shoulders, upper back, or upper abdomen (abdomen).
Shortness of breath
Pain in one or both arms
Nausea and vomiting
Sweating
Dizziness or vertigo
Unusual fatigue
Heartburn (upset stomach)
These symptoms can be vague and not as noticeable as the chest pain associated with a heart attack. This may be because women have blockages not only in their main arteries, but also in the smaller vessels that supply blood to the heart – a condition known as microvascular heart disease or coronary microvascular disease.
Compared to men, women experience symptoms more often while resting or sleeping.
Heart attack symptoms in women are different than in men, so women are underdiagnosed with heart disease than men. Women are more likely than men to have non-occlusive heart attacks (non-occlusive coronary artery disease).
When to see a doctor?
If you have symptoms of a heart attack or if you have symptoms of a heart attack, call for emergency medical help. Don’t go to the emergency room unless you have no other choice.