How to Recognize Heart Attack Signs and Symptoms in Women

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By Deanna Lynn Sletten
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Be aware of heart attack symptoms so you know when to call emergency.

Women experience heart attack symptoms differently than men do and that is why women are more likely to be misdiagnosed when having a heart attack. Yet, according to the article "Heart disease in women: Understand symptoms and risk factors" by the Mayo Clinic, more women die of heart disease than men each year and more women over age 65 die of heart disease than all the cancers combined. Because women are at such a high risk of experiencing a heart attack, it is important for women to understand the signs and symptoms so they can get the medical attention they need.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Know Warning Signs of a Heart Attack - Women can experience warning signs of a heart attack weeks before the attack actually occurs. In a study published in the Circulation Journal of the American Heart Association, women reported having warning signs up to 6 weeks before their heart attack. Symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, shortness of breath and stomach pains were reported. Women should take such warning signs seriously as they may be an indication of a blocked artery.
Step 2

Understand Symptoms of a Heart Attack - The most common symptoms of a heart attack are a sudden pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest and numbness in the left arm. This can occur in women, but most women report they do not experience a heart attack this way. Symptoms women do report are:

• Dizziness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Lower chest pain or discomfort
• Unusual fatigue
• Abdominal pressure or the feeling of indigestion
• Shortness of breath
• Upper back, neck, jaw or shoulder pain
Step 3

Be Aware of when Symptoms Generally Occur - People tend to believe that a heart attack usually occurs during strenuous physical activity or high stress moments. The truth is, however, many heart attacks occur when the body is relaxing, resting and even sleeping.
Step 4

Don't risk your heart health for a bad habit like smoking.

Recognizing if You are at Risk - Women who are at risk of having a heart attack generally have some or all of the following risk factors: family history of heart disease, overweight or obese, high blood pressure, high bad cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, high stress, poor diet, little to no exercise or are smokers. African American and Native American women are at an even higher risk of developing heart disease and experiencing a heart attack.
Step 5

Don't break your family's heart by ignoring the risk factors - see a doctor.

See Your Doctor - Don't wait for a heart attack to strike before talking to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk of a heart attack. While you cannot change hereditary factors, you can change lifestyle and eating habits to keep your heart healthy and prevent a heart attack.

Comments

srbd said

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on 2/6/2010 Women especially need to be aware their heart attack symptoms are so often different - and women historically just won't seek medical help as soon!

superdeals said

on 1/24/2010 Thank you for this advice!

SarahRobinson said

on 1/18/2010 Good to know!

dplumber said

on 1/16/2010 Thanks for sharing How to Recognize Heart Attack Signs and Symptoms in Women. This is so important for all women to hear, young and old.Don't ignore the warning signs. I had a young mid 20's girl friend once who did not listen to her body. She ended up passing out while driving down the highway and crashed. Six hours later they were prepping her for a pacemaker.