4 heart attack signs women should know

Heart disease is the leading killer of women in the United States, responsible for 1 in 3 deaths each year. Tens of thousands of those deaths are caused by heart attacks. Heart attacks occur when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is blocked. If the blockage isn’t treated quickly, heart muscle begins to die, and healthy tissue is replaced with scar tissue. 

Evidence shows that women often wait longer than men to call for help during a heart attack, which can be fatal or result in more serious or lasting problems. In one December 2018 study published in European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care, researchers found that on average, it took women 37 minutes longer than men to dial an ambulance for a heart attack.  

One reason for this discrepancy may be that women downplay their symptoms or just don’t realize they need urgent medical attention. They are also less likely than men to have “classic” symptoms, like chest pain. Women tend to experience lesser-known heart attack symptoms, too, such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or breaking out into a cold sweat, which could be confused with another condition, such as the flu or heartburn or indigestion.  

Every second is important when you're having a heart attack. Delays in treatment increase the risk for worse outcomes. Don't ignore these four heart attack symptoms in women.