When you think of a heart attack, the image that comes to mind is probably a person holding his chest or feeling numb in his left arm. Until recently, doctors expected the symptoms to be similar in men and women. But that is not true. In fact, a study by the National Institutes of Health found that only 30% of the 515 women surveyed had some kind of chest discomfort while suffering a heart attack.
It seems that heart attack symptoms for women can be disturbingly more subtle – making heart attacks in women look very different than the picture of a heart health problem. Since February is American Heart Health month, here are the heart attack symptoms that women need to take seriously.
© Terese Condella / SheKnows
Extreme fatigue
In the NIH study, “unusual fatigue” was reported by 70% of women in the sample. This tiredness can appear days or weeks before the actual attack.
Sleep disorders
If you don’t sleep well at night, this may be a warning. The NIH found that 48 percent of women reported sleep disorders as a symptom before their heart attacks.
Back, neck or jaw pain
Instead of obvious chest pain, we may experience pain in the jaw, neck, or lower or upper back. WebMD notes: “The pain can be gradual or sudden, and it can increase and decrease before it becomes intense. If you are sleeping, it can wake you up. “
Indigestion
Heart failure can cause abdominal bloating, which can manifest as indigestion, nausea, poor appetite and vomiting. In the NIH study, 39 percent of women reported these symptoms.
Flu-like symptoms
According to the Women’s Heart Foundation, 71 percent of women report having flu-like symptoms that lead to more acute heart attack symptoms.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a way of life for most Americans in today’s society. But if you notice unusual bouts of stress or feelings of “impending doom,” take a minute to breathe. Your anxiety may be trying to tell you something. Thirty-five percent of women in the NIH study reported feelings of anxiety during a heart attack.
© Terese Condella
A version of this article was originally published in December 2016.
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