Warning Signs for Heart Attack in Women

Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States?  Most women believe they have a greater risk of dying from breast cancer than heart disease.  This is a common misconception among women because the signs and symptoms are easily mistaken for other conditions and they are different than the signs and symptoms for men suffering a heart attack.

Heart Attack Warning Signs and Symptoms for Women

• pressure, fullness, tightness or pain in your chest lasting five minutes or longer
•  
  constant indigestion-like discomfort
• chest pain that moves to your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back
• lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting, sweating or nausea/vomiting
• unexplained shortness of breath
• unexplained anxiety, weakness or tiredness
• palpitations, a cold sweat or paleness
• sudden racing heart sensation with a very fast pulse
• inability to perform household chores

Are you at risk of heart attack?  If one or more of these factors apply to you, you could be at greater risk.

• Menstruation has stopped
•  
  Smoking
• Family history of arteriosclerotic heart disease before age 60
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• High cholesterol

A recent study sheds new light on just how differently women experience heart attack compared to men. A survey of more than 500 women found that 95 percent had specifically new and different symptoms up to a month prior to their heart attacks. Surprisingly, fatigue and problems sleeping top the list. More than 70 percent of the patients experienced no chest discomfort, as most men do.

Most Common Symptoms Reported by Women in a Month Prior to a Heart Attack:

• 71% unexplained or unusual fatigue
•  
  48% sleep disturbance
• 42% shortness of breath
• 39% indigestion
• 35% anxiety