Before a Heart Attack: Know These Signs, Regarding Women, Fall 2004
Before a Heart Attack: Know These Signs
Chest pain: the classic symptom that says “heart attack” to most people. But that’s far truer for men than women. In a recent study of female heart attack survivors, nearly half experienced no chest pain at all. Instead, they were more likely to have weakness, dizziness, nausea, cold sweats, or breathlessness.
These “nontraditional” symptoms may be one reason why women’s heart attacks more often go unrecognized than men’s. Another possible reason: Not much is known about women’s early warning signs. These can occur as much as six months before a heart attack. The most common sign was unusual, unexplained fatigue. Other early signs include:
- difficulty sleeping
- shortness of breath
- indigestion
- anxiety
Circulation, Vol. 108, No. 21
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