Overview: Did you know heart attack symptoms for women can be different than men? Some signs – like dizziness and nausea – aren't so obvious. Both men and women can experience chest discomfort, however women are more apt to have pain at rest or while sleeping and men after exertion. Get the facts about heart disease – the No. 1 killer of women.
What are heart attack symptoms in women?
More than one in three women lives with cardiovascular disease, and it’s the No. 1 killer of women. Yet many remain unaware of their greatest health threat, says the American Heart Association.
Nearly half of all women ages 20 and above live with some form of cardiovascular disease. Yet, it’s harder to identify heart disease in women, and they tend to present different types of pain during an acute heart attack compared to men.
Heart attack symptoms in women
Here are a few differences in heart attack symptoms to watch for:
- Symptoms of chest discomfort at rest or during sleep.
- Sudden onset of extreme fatigue.
- Drenching sweat.
- Pain in one or both arms.
- Neck, jaw, shoulder or upper back pain.
- Shortness of breath.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Dizziness.
- Tightness in chest.
- Breathlessness.
- Heartburn.
“One of the most common presenting symptoms is chest discomfort, either heaviness, tightness or sharp pain. However, the difference between men and women is the type of pain they have,” said Denisa Hagau, cardiologist at MercyOne North Iowa Heart Center.
“Women tend to have pain more at rest and even more during sleep. Men’s pain comes more from exertion. Women commonly present with drenching sweat or sudden onset severe fatigue, like you can’t go from the couch to the TV because you’re so significantly tired. Or you can’t lift your arm because you’re so tired.”
Find out your risk for heart disease.
Women's risk for heart disease
While traditional risk factors for heart disease affect both men and women, there are other factors that can play a role in the development of disease in women.
“Women should know heart disease is 10 times deadlier than most cancers combined. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with screening for cancer, and it’s advised. However, we should be equally as driven and focused on screening for heart disease in women because it’s the leading cause of death equally for men and women,” Dr. Dagau said.
“We used to think women were more protected from heart disease until menopause due to estrogen production, but more and more younger women are coming in with heart disease at ages 35-45 or having heart attacks. “
Heart disease risks in women include:
- Family history of early heart disease.
- Menopause.
- Pregnancy-related complications, such as high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy.
- Diabetes: Women with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease than men with diabetes.
- Smoking is a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than it is in men.
- High blood pressure.
- Emotional stress and depression, which affects women's hearts more than men's.
- Not being active.
- Some autoimmune diseases like lupus and scleroderma.
- Sleep deprivation.
What can I do to prevent heart disease?
Over time, coronary heart disease leads to plaque build-up in the coronary arteries. This build-up limits blood flow, similar to a pipe clogging up with dirt and not letting water flow through.
Heart disease in women has a lot to do with their lifestyle. Your lifestyle in your 20s may not seem like a big deal, but it catches up with you once you’re in your 30s and can develop into high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and other risk factors.
“Women don’t make time for ourselves,” Dr. Hagau said. “And that’s one of the biggest problems of women and heart disease. Over time because of our lifestyle, our busy schedules, our work, the children...we take care of everyone else first before we take care of ourselves.”
While menopause does not cause cardiovascular disease, the approach of menopause marks a point when women’s cardiovascular risk factors accelerate. This makes increased focus on your health during this pivotal life stage crucial.
No matter your age, here are some changes you can make today:
- Follow a heart healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Quit smoking
- Know your A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol and weight
- Know your family history
- Monitor your alcohol intake
- Take your prescribed medications
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Monitor your stress levels
Learn more about heart and vascular care at MercyOne.
This blog was medically reviewed by a MercyOne Provider.
