Heart Attack Symptoms: Know the Gender Differences

Read below to learn to recognize the unique heart attack symptoms in men and women in order to act swiftly and potentially save lives.

If you were having a heart attack, you'd get help right away, right? Unfortunately, many people having a heart attack wait more than three hours before getting help, says the American Heart Association. Some worry about it potentially being a false alarm, and others simply think, “This can’t be a heart attack.”

What does a heart attack feel like? For your safety, it’s important to know the signs of a heart attack—especially since symptoms can be different for men and women. Knowing the signs can help you or a loved one get treated as quickly as possible.

Heart Attack Symptoms for Men

According to Dr. Nikita Gill, a Dignity Health cardiology hospitalist, men are more likely to experience severe chest pain than women are. However, a small percentage of men have no chest pain, and some diabetics may not feel any pain at all during a heart attack.

While chest pain is the most common and recognizable symptom, it's not the only one that men experience. According to Dr. Gill, men can experience shortness of breath, a heartburnlike feeling, nausea, sweating, or light-headedness. Although pain in the left arm is a well-known symptom, pain in the right arm, neck, stomach, or back can also signal a heart attack.

Key Differences for Women

Dr. Gill explains that women often experience a different set of symptoms when they have a heart attack. Women often don't experience the intense pain in one arm and extreme chest pain that men see, although these symptoms do occur occasionally. Heart attack symptoms in women usually take different forms.

Women often experience pain in their neck, jaw, and back. Although men may experience these symptoms too, they are much more present in women. Stomach pain is another symptom, although it may feel like the flu or heartburn.

Dr. Gill states that women may also experience nausea and light-headedness during a heart attack. Shortness of breath may occur, even for women who haven't exerted themselves physically. Women may also experience a nervous sweat or may feel exhausted or fatigued, even if they're well rested.

Women may still experience chest pain during a heart attack, but it will generally not be to the same extreme that men feel on their left side, according to Dr. Gill. Instead of extreme tightness, women may feel squeezing anywhere in the chest.

Menopause Is Another Link

Age presents another important risk factor for women. About 10 years after the onset of menopause, there appears to be an increase in heart attacks in women. Researchers for the American Heart Association believe this increase may be tied to hormonal changes in the woman's body linked to menopause: increases in blood pressure and fats in the blood, an increase in LDL (bad cholesterol), and a decrease in HDL (good cholesterol). These factors can disrupt healthy blood flow, putting additional strain on the heart and increasing the risk of heart disease.

Call 911

Get medical help right away if you or someone you know has these symptoms. Pay attention to the common symptoms, especially the less obvious ones that women may experience—there’s more to it than just chest pain. Even the most subtle signs can signal that something may be amiss. By staying aware and acting quickly, you could save your life or someone else’s.