IN THIS ISSUE

From the Winter 2006 Issue

Daily Living

Heart Attack:
Symptoms Differ for Men and Women

Did you know that the symptoms of a heart attack can be very different for women and men? It's true. In the last few years—since learning that heart attacks happen in almost as many women as men—researchers have been studying heart attack symptoms in women. LifeBeat Online outlines the results of a recent study1 that found surprising differences between heart attack symptoms in men and women.

Traditional Symptoms: More Typical in Men

For many decades doctors thought that heart attacks were a "male" problem that did not usually affect women. So, heart attack research focused mostly on men. "Traditional" heart attack symptoms were based on this research.

"What used to be taught in medical school, and what you saw in the medical journals, was how to cook for your husband so that he wouldn't get heart disease," said Rita Redberg, MD. Dr. Redberg is director of Women's Cardiovascular Services at the University of California-San Francisco.

Although women can have traditional symptoms, too, the following symptoms are more common in men just before or during a heart attack:2

• Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest
• Discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Shortness of breath
• A cold sweat
• Nausea or lightheadedness

Symptoms Often Differ for Women and Men

Based on recent research on women's heart attack symptoms, doctors now know that the three most common heart attack symptoms in women are different than in men. Just before or during a heart attack, women commonly experience:1

• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Unusual fatigue

In addition to these three common symptoms, women may also have some of the traditional symptoms that men typically experience—including cold sweats and nausea or lightheadedness.

While men most often feel chest pain as the major symptom during a heart attack, less than one-third of women do. According to Noel Bairey Merz, MD, shortness of breath in women can be the equivalent of chest pain in men. Dr. Bairey Merz is director of the Women's Health Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Video

Dr. Bairey Merz

"... shortness of breath should not ever be ignored..."

Play Video
(1 minute)

Women May Notice Symptoms Much Sooner

The researchers also found that women often notice symptoms sooner than men. Men usually have symptoms right before or during a heart attack. But women may notice the following symptoms for a month or more before a heart attack:1

• Unusual fatigue
• Sleep disturbances
• Shortness of breath
• Indigestion
• Anxiety

Video

Women May Experience Different Symptoms Than Men

Pat Comeaux

"The tiredness progressed more and more and more as the evening went on."

Play Video
(2.5 minutes)

 

 

 

 

Terry Speiker

"I began to feel more nauseated."

Play Video
(2.5 minutes)

 

 

 

 

 

Know All of the Heart Attack Symptoms

According to Dr. Redberg, "Awareness is definitely the first step" in protecting your heart health. So it's a good idea to know all of the common heart attack symptoms. Your knowledge might help you identify your own symptoms—as well as symptoms in your partner, family, or friends.

Dr. Bairey Merz noted that women, in particular, "have more body awareness and greater pain sensitivity. So [perhaps] your husband says, 'Oh honey you're just being a little too sensitive.' You can say, 'Yes... and that can be turned into an asset. Maybe my early warning signs of a heart attack are better.'"

Whether you are a man or woman, if you have one or more symptoms of a heart attack, minutes matter. Call 911 right away.

If your symptoms continue even after your doctor has told you nothing is wrong, Dr. Bairey Merz suggests that you get a second opinion. "You have two eyes, two arms, two legs," she said. "But you only have one heart." Taking care of your heart, she noted, "is always worth a second opinion."

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1. McSweeney JC, Cody M, O'Sullivan P, et al. Women's early warning symptoms of acute myocardial infarction. Circulation. 2003;108:2619-2623.
2. American Heart Association. Heart Attack, Stroke & Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs. Available at: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053. Accessed November 7, 2006.