Signs of Heart Attack in Women

Heart disease is a major health issue, especially for women.  Cardiovascular diseases and stroke cause 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year. The usual depiction of a heart attack is extreme chest pain on the left side accompanied by pain in the left arm. While both men and women experience these symptoms, women are more likely to experience different and more subtle symptoms. Below is a list.
• Chest pain that manifests itself differently: Instead of sharp, crushing pain, it can feel more like a squeezing or fullness in the chest. This pain can also be anywhere in the chest area.
• Pain in the back, neck, or jaw: Women are more likely to experience pain in these areas during a heart attack than men.
• Stomach pain: Crushing abdominal pressure can also be a symptom of a heart attack. Nausea/vomiting can accompany the pain.
• Cold, nervous sweat: This sweat will feel more like stress-related sweating than exertion-based.
• Fatigue.
• Trouble breathing.
Women often say “it felt like the flu”.  Not everyone will get all of these symptoms, and men can get these symptoms as well. However, these are more common in women. If you experience any of these symptoms for an extended period, get to a medical professional immediately.