FACT: Heart attack symptoms can be different for women than they are for men.

The journal Circulation published the findings of a study of 515 women who had experienced heart attacks. Surprisingly, their most frequently reported symptoms didn’t include chest pain. Instead, they reported unusual levels of fatigue, sleep disturbances, and anxiety. Nearly 80% reported experiencing at least one symptom for more than a month before the attack and only 65% of the women said they’d call an ambulance if they thought they might be having a heart attack.

So the lesson is clear… Even if you’re not sure, get emergency care right away. Base your decision on what feels normal and abnormal and if you haven’t experienced symptoms like those before, don’t hesitate to get help! And if you don’t agree with your doctor’s conclusion, get a second opinion!

Symptoms of a heart attack in women include:

Unusual fatigue lasting for several days or sudden severe or profound fatigue and unexplained fatigue, or a sudden decrease in energy levels can also be a warning sign of a heart attack in women.

Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, unusual restlessness, or waking up frequently during the night, can be warning signs of a heart attack in some women.

Anxiety, or a sense of impending doom, or a feeling that something is terribly wrong is also common during a heart attack.

Lightheadedness, feeling dizzy or faint is also a symptom of heart attack.

Feeling breathless or having difficulty catching your breath can also be a symptom of a heart attack. This may occur with or without chest pain.

Indigestion, nausea or vomiting can also be mistaken for other gastrointestinal issues.

Cold Sweats, clammy skin, and sweating can accompany a heart attack in women.

Pain or discomfort in areas other than the chest, such as the neck, jaw, shoulder, back, or stomach that radiate from the chest is often a more subtle symptom.

Pressure or pain in the centre of your chest, which may spread to your arm is definitely a warning sign. While chest pain is a common symptom in both men and women, women may experience different types of chest discomfort, sometimes described as a squeezing, fullness, pressure, or burning sensation in the chest that comes and goes.

Heart attacks in women over the age of 50

Women experience significant physical changes around the age of 50, the age when many women start to go through menopause. During this period of life, levels of the hormone Oestrogen, believed to help protect the health of your heart, begin to drop. After menopause, the risk of heart attack increases. Unfortunately, women who experience a heart attack are less likely to survive than men, so it becomes even more important to remain conscious of heart health after menopause.

Try to be aware of these symptoms and schedule regular health checkups with your doctor. There are additional symptoms of a heart attack that women over the age of 50 may experience. These symptoms include:

• severe chest pain

• pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach

• rapid or irregular heartbeat

• sweating

A silent heart attack is like any other kind of heart attack, except that it occurs without the usual symptoms. In other words, you may not even realise you’re having a heart attack!

Rsearch from Duke University Medical Center has estimated that as many as 200,000 Americans experience heart attacks each year without even knowing it. Unfortunately, these events cause heart damage and increase the risk of future attacks. Silent heart attacks are more common among people with diabetes and in those who’ve had previous heart attacks.

Symptoms that may indicate a silent heart attack include:

• mild discomfort in your chest, arms, or jaw that goes away after resting

• shortness of breath and tiring easily

• sleep disturbances and increased fatigue

• abdominal pain or heartburn

• skin clamminess

After a silent heart attack, you may experience more fatigue than before or find that exercise becomes more difficult. So try to get regular physical examinations to stay on top of your heart health. If you have cardiac risk factors, talk to your doctor about getting tests to check the condition of your heart.