Women often experience a heart attack in a different way to men, which often means they go untreated for longer. Find out more...
What is a heart attack?
When you think of a heart attack you may imagine someone clutching their chest and collapsing to the ground. However, the symptoms can vary enormously from person to person and women are more likely to have an experience that is very different from the classic cardiac pain.A male problem?
Heart disease is more common in men because female hormones offer some protection before the menopause. But coronary artery disease is far from a man’s problem. Heart disease is the second biggest killer of women in this country after Alzheimer’s and dementia. Every year, heart disease kills more than twice as many women as breast cancer, with 186 women going into hospital with a heart attack every single day.If you would like to learn more about heart disease; the history, causes, and the various treatments, see Heart Disease: A Deeper Dive
Heart attack in women
Too many people think of heart attacks as being reserved for overweight, overwrought men. Yes, they are at risk but so are women. Part of the problem is the fact that women’s symptoms may not be as clear cut. Professor David Newby from the British Heart Foundation said: "There is some evidence that women’s symptoms are more likely to vary from ‘classic’ chest pain, and we know that women are less likely to seek medical attention and treatment."Who is at risk?
No one is immune to the dangers of heart disease, but women who are still having their periods are less vulnerable. It’s more important to consider your heart health and have regular check-ups to identify high blood-pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol if:- You are over forty, especially if you have been through the menopause
- You have a family history of cardiovascular disease, for example if a close male relative was under 55 when they were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or a close female relative was under 65
- You have diabetes
- You smoke
- You have raised blood pressure
- You had high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy
- You are inactive
- You have had recurrent problems with stress and depression
Spotting the signs
It is only by increasing awareness amongst women that we can help maintain heart health and save lives. The signs of a heart attack in women can include:- Chest pain, this can be crushing, a feeling of heaviness or just a pressure. The feelings may often be subtler than they are in men and more women experience symptoms that are unrelated to pain in the chest.
- Pain, tightness or aching in the neck, jaw or shoulder
- Discomfort in the upper back or tummy.
- Shortness of breath
- An ache or pain in the arm, this is classically in the left arm but can be in either, or both arms
- Sickness and nausea
- Sweating and clamminess
- Feeling faint, lightheaded or dizzy
- Exhaustion and fatigue