4 Heart Attack Symptoms Women Often Dismiss

Before and during a heart attack, women are more likely than men to experience subtle warning signs that are easy to brush off as stress, fatigue, or indigestion. Recognizing these less obvious symptoms can save lives.

Saving lives and protecting your future cardiovascular health is our primary focus here at Premier Cardiology Consultants in New York. To that end, we’re happy to provide women with the facts they need to make informed decisions about their heart health.

Here are four heart attack symptoms women commonly dismiss, and why you should never ignore them.

1. Unusual fatigue

Feeling tired after a busy day is a normal experience. But it may be a red flag if you’re suddenly exhausted by activities that never used to slow you down, like climbing stairs, carrying groceries, or walking across the parking lot.

Many women who’ve had a heart attack later recall days or even weeks of unexplained fatigue. This signal of a potential cardiac event is likely related to reduced blood flow and oxygen delivery, which are often linked to clogged arteries and a poorly functioning heart.  

Because your heart is not pumping efficiently, your body has to work harder to compensate for the reduced blood flow and resulting lack of available oxygen.

2. Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath is often mistaken for being “out of shape” or a sign of anxiety. But if you find yourself struggling to breathe after minimal exertion, or even at rest, your heart could be signaling a problem.

Some women notice they can’t catch their breath when lying flat or wake up suddenly at night feeling like they’re suffocating. A shortage of oxygen may signal reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, and shortness of breath is a common sign of a heart attack.

3. Nausea, indigestion, or stomach pain

Many women confuse heart attack warning signs with digestive issues. A heavy, burning sensation in the upper abdomen, queasiness, or unexplained vomiting may actually stem from the heart, not the stomach.

Women are more likely than men to experience these gastrointestinal symptoms, and often chalk them up to a meal that didn’t agree with them. Stomach discomfort during a heart attack is caused by nerve signals from the heart, which can mimic digestive upset.

4. Discomfort in the neck, jaw, shoulder, or back

Pain that radiates away from the chest is another commonly overlooked symptom in women. Instead of sharp, localized chest pain, women may experience a dull ache or pressure in the upper back, between the shoulder blades, or in the jaw, which may come and go or worsen with exertion.

These areas share nerve pathways with the heart, so the discomfort may actually be your heart’s distress signal.

Ready for the bottom line?

According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States, responsible for about 1 in 5 female deaths each year. Yet studies show that women are more likely than men to delay seeking help because they don’t recognize the symptoms.

Women’s heart attack symptoms can be subtle, but they are never insignificant. If you notice any of these warning signs, especially if they appear suddenly or feel different than your usual health, seek medical help immediately. Call 911 rather than driving yourself to the hospital.

On the other hand, advances in medical knowledge and technology make it more possible than ever to overcome and even prevent heart disease.

If you haven’t had a recent check-up, consider scheduling a heart screening at Premier Cardiology Consultants. Call the office nearest you. A simple appointment can give you peace of mind and possibly save your life.