The most commonly reported symptoms did not include chest pain.
Instead, women described unusual fatigue, trouble sleeping, and anxiety.
In recent decades, researchers have found that heart attack symptoms can differ significantly between women and men. The journal Circulation published results from a multicenter study of 515 women who had experienced a heart attack.
Chest pain was not among the most frequent symptoms. Rather, women reported fatigue, sleep problems, and anxiety. Nearly 80 percent said they had at least one symptom for more than a month before the event.
In a survey also published in Circulation, only 65 percent of women said they would call 911 if they believed they were having a heart attack.
Common heart attack symptoms in women include:
Even if you’re uncertain, seek emergency care immediately. Trust your sense of what feels normal and what doesn’t. If these symptoms are new, don’t delay getting help. If you question your doctor’s assessment, consider a second opinion.
Unusual fatigue that lasts for several days or comes on suddenly and severely
Disrupted sleep patterns
Sleep disturbances such as insomnia, unusual restlessness, or frequent waking during the night have been reported by some women as warning signs before a heart attack.
Anxiety
Some women may feel a sense of impending doom, anxiety, or that something is seriously wrong during a heart attack.
Lightheadedness
Feeling dizzy or faint can also occur during a heart attack.
Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath or difficulty catching your breath can be a sign of a heart attack. It may occur with or without chest discomfort.
Indigestion or gas-like pain
Some women may feel nauseated or may vomit during a heart attack, which can be mistaken for other gastrointestinal issues.
Cold sweats
Cold, clammy skin and sweating can accompany a heart attack, especially in women.
Jaw pain or pain that radiates up to the jaw
Women may experience pain or discomfort in areas other than the chest, such as the neck, jaw, shoulder, back, or stomach. This pain may radiate from the chest and is often a more subtle symptom.
Pressure or pain in the center of the chest that may spread to the arm
While chest pain is a common symptom in both men and women, women may experience different types of chest discomfort. It can be described as a squeezing, fullness, pressure, or burning sensation in the chest that may come and go.
Heart attack in women over 50
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Women undergo major physical changes around the age of 50, when many begin menopause. During this time, estrogen levels decline. Estrogen is thought to play a role in protecting heart health. After menopause, the risk of a heart attack increases. Unfortunately, women who have a heart attack are less likely to survive than men. This makes it even more important to stay mindful of heart health after menopause.
Stay aware of these symptoms and keep up with regular checkups with your doctor. Women over 50 may also experience other heart attack symptoms, including:
severe chest pain
pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
rapid or irregular heartbeat
sweating
Silent heart attack symptoms
A silent heart attack is the same as any other heart attack, except it happens without the typical symptoms. In other words, you may not even realize you’ve had one.
In fact, research from Duke University Medical Center estimated that as many as 200,000 Americans experience heart attacks each year without knowing it. Unfortunately, these events still cause heart damage and raise the risk of future attacks. Silent heart attacks are more common in people with diabetes and those who have already had a heart attack.
Symptoms that may suggest a silent heart attack include:
mild discomfort in your chest, arms, or jaw that eases after rest
shortness of breath and getting tired easily
sleep problems and increased fatigue
abdominal pain or heartburn
clammy skin
After a silent heart attack, you may feel more fatigued than before or notice that exercise has become more difficult. Regular physical exams are important to stay on top of heart health. If you have cardiac risk factors, speak with your doctor about tests to assess your heart’s condition.
Schedule regular checkups
By scheduling regular checkups and learning to recognize heart attack symptoms, you can help reduce the risk of serious heart damage. This may improve your life expectancy and overall well-being.