Male vs. Female Heart Attack Symptoms

More than 800,000 Americans have heart attacks every year, according to the CDC. On average, that equals about one heart attack every 40 seconds. 

While traditionally considered a “man’s problem,” heart attacks are just as common among women. There is one key difference: Data show women are more likely to die from a heart attack compared to men.

That difference could be due to a misunderstanding of how common heart disease is among women. But it could also be because heart attack symptoms in women can veer away from the traditional signs and symptoms most of us know about, and women’s heart attacks may, therefore, be more challenging to detect.

Anthony B. Lewis, MD, FACC, and the TLC Medical Group Inc. team offer the most advanced care for heart attacks, preventive treatment, and testing to help your heart stay healthy. In this post, learn how heart attack symptoms can differ between men and women so you can recognize symptoms and seek treatment immediately.

Heart attack basics

Also called myocardial infarctions, heart attacks happen when the blood flow to the heart is interrupted either partially or entirely. When circulation to the heart slows or stops, the heart muscle no longer receives oxygen (or other nutrients). Without immediate care or spontaneous resolution, heart tissue can begin to die.

Most heart attacks are due to underlying cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease. While most heart attacks cause noticeable symptoms, some can be “silent” or cause very subtle symptoms, even though the heart tissue may still be damaged.

Understanding the symptoms associated with heart attacks is essential for seeking care right away. While most of us are familiar with the “Hollywood version” of a heart attack — clutching the chest in extreme pain, followed by a collapse — heart attack symptoms can vary dramatically from person to person, including differences in the symptoms that occur in men and women.

Heart attack symptoms: men vs. women

While chest pain can definitely be a sign of a heart attack in both women and men, it’s entirely possible to have a heart attack without experiencing extreme pain — especially if you’re a woman. Women often have much more subtle symptoms, frequently mistaken for symptoms of the flu, indigestion, or aging.

Instead of experiencing crushing chest pain that radiates sharply into the left arm, women may be more likely to have symptoms like:

• Extreme or sudden fatigue, even without exertion
• Pain in the back, neck, or jaw
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Profuse sweating
• Difficulty breathing

Women may also experience chest pain that’s more widespread than the extreme pain more common among men.

Because women’s symptoms tend to be less dramatic, they’re also easier to overlook to attribute to something far less severe. This misunderstanding can cause dangerous delays in treatment that, in turn, can lead to severe damage, disability, and death.

Prevention is key

Although heart attack symptoms can vary between men and women, prevention strategies remain the same: 

• Follow a healthy eating plan
• Get regular exercise
• Practice stress management
• Get plenty of sleep
• Quit smoking
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Maintain a healthy weight

In addition, knowing your risk factors and having regular heart checkups can help both women and men take essential steps to ward off heart attacks and maintain optimal cardiovascular health.

Don’t ignore your symptoms

Heart attack symptoms can be subtle, and if you’ve never had a heart attack before, it can be tough to identify when you’re having one. 

If you suspect you may be having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately. To learn how we can help you manage your heart disease risks and even prevent attacks in the future, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Lewis and the team at TLC Medical Group in Port St. Lucie, Florida, today.