Different Symptoms of Heart Attack in Men and Women

Most people believe that heart attack symptoms manifest exactly the same way for all people. While it is true that there are certain telltale signs such as chest pains and shortness of breath, there are important differences that must be noted with regard to heart attack symptoms, especially among men and women.

There are studies that indicate that compared to men, women actually have a higher risk of dying from a heart attack. This is perhaps due to the fact that they are experiencing symptoms other than what they normally perceive to be as heart attack.

A heart attack is a medical emergency that requires immediate, emergency care. WebMD cites Dr. Prediman K. Shah, a cardiology director at a New York City hospital who gave a statement regarding heart attack symptoms: “Getting immediate, appropriate care is the single most important thing you can do to lessen the damage of a heart attack.”

Providing urgent care to a person experiencing heart attack is of utmost importance, but the ability to provide urgent care is contingent on being able to identify its symptoms. And this is why it is critical for anyone to detect when a heart attack is already taking place.

It is possible for men and women to have different heart attack symptoms. There are studies that indicate that fewer women experience chest pain. In fact, 42% of men who experienced a heart attack reported chest pain, while only 30.7% of women who also experienced a heart attack reported that their symptoms included chest pain. Some studies also report that the younger the women are, the less likely that they will experience chest pain in the face of a heart attack.

It is important to raise the awareness that although chest pain is perceived to be a characteristic symptom of a heart attack, it is not always experienced. Instead, some people – more likely women – will predominantly feel a tingling discomfort in one or both arms, jaw, or back.

Moreover, it is studied that women usually experience symptoms such as nausea, indigestion, and palpitations, on top of shortness of breath and back pain, which may or may not be accompanied by chest pains.

The National Institute for Health also specifies the symptoms experienced by both men and women respectively:

Women

• Unusual fatigue
• Sleep disturbance
• Shortness of breath
• Indigestion
• Anxiety

Men

• Unusual fatigue
• Weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Cold Sweat
• Dizziness

It is vital for anyone to be aware of these symptoms, and to make sure that these possible symptoms of a heart attack are never ignored. What we need to understand is that the sooner that you are given medical attention, the higher the chances your recovery.

If you are looking for an emergency facility that can attend to your cardiac concerns, Physicians Premier is your emergency care center. Situated in Corpus Christi, they can provide you with high-quality, professional, 24-hour emergency care.

Visit Physicians Premier locations:

• Saratoga Emergency Room
• Staples Corpus Christi Emergency Room
• Ennis Joslin South Padre Island Emergency Room
• Portland Texas Emergency Room
• Calallen Texas Emergency Room

Saratoga Emergency Room