According to the American Heart Association, more than one in three women dies from cardiovascular disease. Read on to learn how women’s symptoms of heart attack and stroke differ from men’s symptoms—and what to do if you experience either.
know the warning signs of heart attack
Even if you carefully manage your risk factors and do all you can to take care of your heart, it’s wise to know the symptoms of heart attack. Although some women’s heart attacks are sudden and intense—the “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening—the fact is that most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. As in men, chest pain or discomfort is the most common heart attack symptom in women. However, women are more likely to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea and/or vomiting, and back or jaw pain. In addition, research suggests that indigestion and increasing fatigue may be experienced among some women having a heart attack.
Remember that not all warning signs occur with every heart attack. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. If you have one or more of the following signs, don’t wait longer than 5 minutes before calling 9-1-1 for help.
- Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, the neck, the jaw, or the stomach.
- Shortness of breath. This may occur with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs. These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.
know the warning signs of stroke
A heart attack isn’t the only dangerous manifestation of cardiovascular disease. Similar to a heart attack, a stroke can be considered a “brain attack.” Stroke occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is obstructed or blocked by a clot located either in the arteries leading to the brain or in the brain, or by a blood vessel rupturing. When the obstruction or blockage happens, the affected part of the brain cannot get the oxygen and nutrients it needs and the cells start to die.
Because stroke happens so quickly, it is crucial to be familiar with the warning signs. Not all warning signs occur with every stroke.
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or trouble understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, don’t delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or, if needed, a separate emergency medical service (EMS) number, so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent. Also, check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared. It’s very important to take immediate action. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. tPA is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours of symptom onset.
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