Do you know heart attack symptoms in women are vague and different from men?

Often called “the silent killer”, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the cause of 1 out of every 5 female deaths. If heart disease goes untreated, it may lead to an emergency cardiac episode called a heart attack. The classic symptom of a heart attack in both men and women is chest pain or pressure. However, women often experience vague symptoms of a heart attack that are unfortunately missed, further contributing to the dark nickname “the silent killer”.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), women (unlike men) can experience a heart attack without chest pressure. Unfortunately, this causes many women to ignore the signs of a heart attack. If symptoms are ignored and treatment isn’t started in a timely manner, the risk of death increases. The AHA states that many women ignore the symptoms of a heart attack and instead believe them to be from something else such as acid reflux, the common flu, or even signs of aging. It is important we as women know when to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack so we can take necessary action and save lives.

What are the symptoms of a heart attack in Women?

The AHA lists the following symptoms in women in addition to chest pressure:

Shortness of breath

Pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen

Dizziness

Lightheadedness

Fainting

Upper back pressure

Extreme fatigue

If symptoms occur, what should you do?

Call 911. Timing is everything here. The sooner you get to the emergency room, the more you can reduce the amount of damage to the heart and begin recommended treatment.

What can you do to minimize the risk of heart disease?

Quit smoking. Smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease. According to the CDC, smoking causes 1 out of every 4 deaths from cardiovascular disease.

Exercise regularly. The American Heart Association recommends adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity aerobic activity (such as brisk walking, dancing, or water aerobics) or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity (such as running, cycling, or swimming laps) or a combination of both.

Eat a healthy diet. Obesity increases your risk of heart disease, so following a healthy diet is an essential step for heart health prevention.

Get your blood pressure checked. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to heart disease. Women may not know their blood pressure is high because symptoms of high blood pressure are not always present.

Have regular check-ups with your doctor. Regular check-ups alert you to potential risk factors you may have for heart disease and how to manage them.

Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. The CDC recommends 1 drink or less per day for women. The CDC stresses further that alcohol consumption is associated with high blood pressure.

Awareness of a potential health concern is always the first step to initiating healthy habits by focusing on health prevention. Health education is essential because it provides women with the knowledge they need to live healthy lives and prevent chronic diseases. Now that you are armed with the knowledge of vague heart attack symptoms in women, not only are you protecting your own heart health, but you may also help save the life of someone else experiencing heart attack symptoms.

References

American Heart Association. (April 2018). American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults and Kids. [https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults]

American Heart Association. (July 2015). Heart Attack Symptoms in Women. [https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack/heart-attack-symptoms-in-women]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (April 2022). Dietary Guidelines for Alcohol.

[https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/moderate-drinking.htm]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (January 2011). Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk and Recovery. [https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/heart_attack.htm]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (April 2020). Heart Disease and Stroke.

[https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/heart_disease/index.htm]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (February 2022). Lower Your Risk for the Number 1 Killer of Women. [https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/heartdisease/index.html]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (January 2020). Women and Heart Disease. [https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/women.htm]