The symptoms women experience during a heart attack are not always the classic signs such as chest pain and tightness, which are often found in men. Their symptoms may closer resemble other conditions. Below are some common signs women may have.
Shortness of Breath and Fatigue
Women may experience shortness of breath or unusual feelings of fatigue. These signs are often dismissed as a lack of adequate sleep or just overdoing it.
Pain
For women, heart attack pain may not be in the chest, but in the jaw, neck, abdomen, shoulder or back. You may think you have an injury or a pulled muscle instead of recognizing these as signs of a heart attack.
Nausea
Some women have nausea or sensations of heartburn or indigestion as warning signs. Vomiting may or may not be present. You may blame this on having gas or an upset stomach.
Chest Discomfort
Women sometimes have feelings of discomfort in the chest rather than squeezing pain. There may be feelings of panic or that something is wrong.
Weakness
Some women have a feeling of overall weakness during a heart attack. This is often mistakenly blamed on fatigue, a cold or the flu.
Considerations
Many women do not go to the hospital soon enough, and their doctors may not be screening them for heart disease, since their symptoms are not always specifically suggestive of a . If you are at risk for heart disease and experience any of the above symptoms, call for help right away to increase your chances of survival.
Tags: heart attack, women have, during heart, during heart attack, heart disease