Heart Attack

“Women having a heart attack wait longer before
seeking help than men do — one reason women
tend to do worse after a heart attack than men”.1

Umbrella

What may the Heart Attack Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome
  • Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
  • Coronary Occlusion
  • Coronary Thrombosis
  • Heart Attack
  • Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Definition

What is a heart attack?

DotS the definition of a heart attack may vary. The (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. The blockage is usually due to a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the heart (coronary) arteries”.2

Heart Attack or Cardiac Arrest

Is a heart attack the same as a cardiac arrest?

In Heart Attack and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Differences the American Heart Association (AHA) explain:

“Heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest are two different conditions. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. A heart attack is a circulation problem. Sudden cardiac arrest is an electrical problem”.3

Cause

What causes a heart attack?

In Heart Attack: Causes of A Heart Attack the British Heart Foundation (BHF) explain:

“Most heart attacks are caused by coronary heart disease (CHD)”.4

Women or Not

Heart Attack Heart AttackIn women, how common is a heart attack?

In Heart Attack Information for Women the [United States] Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH) elaborate on:

“Although women often think of heart attack as something that usually affects men, heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. Every 100 seconds, a woman in the United States has a heart attack”.5

Minutes Matter

Do minutes matter?

Yes. The Heart Attack Information for Women the OWH explain:

“The good news is that if you get help quickly, treatment can save your life and prevent permanent damage to your heart muscle. Treatment works best if given within one hour of when heart attack symptoms begin”.6

The BHF also emphasize:

“A heart attack is a medical emergency and you should call” “for an ambulance immediately”.7

Minutes Matter Because

Why do minutes matter?

In Heart Attack Information for Women the OWH point out:

“Women having a heart attack wait longer before seeking help than men do — one reason women tend to do worse after a heart attack than men”.8

Risk Reduction

How can I reduce my risk of having a heart attack?

In Heart Attack: Reducing Your Risk of Having A Heart Attack the BHF explain:

“There are many things you can do to be healthier and reduce your risk, like:

  • Keeping active
  • Maintaining a healthy weight and diet…
  • Limiting how much alcohol you drink…
  • Stopping smoking and using other tobacco products
  • Controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels (if you have diabetes)”.9

Health Care Provider

What if I think I am at risk for a heart attack?

If you think you are at risk for a heart attack, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Heart Attack?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Heart Attack?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. About Heart Disease In Women
  2. Angina (Chest Pain)
  3. Angina In Women Can Be Different Than Men
  4. BMS TV: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  5. Can You Stop A Heart Attack Once It Starts?
  6. Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
    Heart Attack
  7. Common Questions About Heart Attack In Women
  8. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Menopause and Heart Disease
  9. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  10. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  11. Coronary Heart Disease
  12. Diagnosing A Heart Attack
  13. Early Warning Signs of A Heart Attack
  14. FAQs: Heart Health for Women
  15. February Is American Heart Month
  16. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women]
  17. Health Topics
  18. Healthy Lifestyle
  19. Healthy Living
  20. Healthy Living
  21. Heart Attack
  22. Heart Attack
  23. Heart Attack
  24. Heart Attack
  25. Heart Attack
  26. Heart Attack
  27. Heart Attack Information for Women
  28. Heart Attack Prevention: Should I Avoid Secondhand Smoke?
  29. Heart Attack Symptoms In Women
  30. Heart Attack Symptoms In Women Are Often Different Than Men
  31. Heart Attack Symptoms: Know What’s A Medical Emergency
  32. Heart Attack Timing: Warning Signs [Video]
  33. Heart Attack Tools and Resources
  34. Heart Attack Warning Signs
  35. Heart Attack [+ Video: What Is A Heart Attack]
  36. Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms
  37. Heart Attack and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Differences?
  38. Heart Attack: Diagnosis & Treatment
  39. Heart Attack: Prevention
  40. Heart Attack: Prevention
  41. Heart Attack: Recovery
  42. Heart Attack: Screening and Prevention
  43. Heart Attack: Symptoms
  44. Heart Attack: Symptoms & Causes
  45. Heart Attack: Symptoms of A Heart Attack
  46. Heart Disease
  47. Heart Disease and Women
  48. Heart Disease: About Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery
  49. Heart Health Information In Your Language: Heart Attack Warning Signs Action Plans
  50. Heart Health Information In Your Language: Will You Recognise Your Heart Attack? Fact Sheet
  51. Heart Health for Women
  52. Heart-Healthy Eating
  53. Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Changes
  54. Heartburn or Heart Attack: When To Worry
  55. Heartburn or Heart Attack?
  56. How To Prevent A Heart Attack
  57. How To Prevent Heart Disease After Menopause
  58. How To Tell the Difference Between A Heart Attack and Panic Attack
  59. Ischemic Heart Disease: What Should Women Know?
  60. Just A Little Heart Attack [Video]
  61. Keep Your Heart Healthy
  62. Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life
  63. Know Your Risk
  64. Know the Symptoms
  65. Lifestyle Changes for Heart Attack Prevention
  66. Life’s Essential 8
  67. Make the Call. Don’t Miss A Beat. [Heart Attack Campaign for Women]
  68. Making Mayo’s Recipes: Two Days’ Worth of Heart-Healthy Menus
  69. Mayo Clinic Minute: How A Coronary Calcium Scan Assesses Heart Attack Risk [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  70. Mayo Clinic Minute: Signs of Coronary Artery Disease, How To Reduce Your Risk [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  71. Mayo Clinic Minute: Women’s Heart Attack Symptoms Vary [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  72. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Self-Care Steps Can Keep Your Heart Healthy During the Holidays
  73. Mayo Clinic Study Indicates Age Has Distinct Influences on Sex-Related Outcomes After Heart Attack
  74. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  75. OfficialGoRed4Women [Videos]
  76. Real Women
  77. Silent Heart Attack: What Are the Risks?
  78. Smokefreewomen [United States]
  79. Stress Management
  80. Symptoms of A Heart Attack
  81. Symptoms of Heart Attack & Stroke In Women
  82. The Heart Truth
  83. Treatment of A Heart Attack
  84. Understand Your Risks To Prevent A Heart Attack
  85. Warning Signs of A Heart Attack
  86. Watch, Learn and Live. Heart Attack [Interactive]
  87. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Cardiovascular Disease In Women
  88. What Is A Heart Attack?
  89. What Is A Heart Attack?
  90. What Is Cardiac Arrest?
  91. What’s the Difference Between A Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest? One’s About Plumbing, the Other Wiring
  92. Women and Heart Attacks
  93. Womenheart.org [WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease, United States]
  94. World Heart Day [29 September]
    Heart Attack
  95. World Menopause Day 2023
  96. World Menopause Day 2023: Patient Information Leaflet

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Heart Attack Information for Women. Page Last Updated: 22 February 2021. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/heartattack/facts.html Accessed: 16 April 2025
  2. Heart Attack: Symptoms and Causes – Overview. 09 October 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20373106 Accessed: 16 April 2025
  3. Heart Attack and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Differences. Last Reviewed: 11 December 2024. American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/about-heart-attacks/heart-attack-or-sudden-cardiac-arrest-how-are-they-different Accessed: 16 April 2025
  4. Heart Attack: Causes of A Heart Attack. Page Last Reviewed: March 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/heart-attack Accessed: 16 April 2025
  5. Heart Attack Information for Women. Page Last Updated: 22 February 2021. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/heartattack/facts.html Accessed: 16 April 2025
  6. Heart Attack Information for Women. Page Last Updated: 22 February 2021. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/heartattack/facts.html Accessed: 16 April 2025
  7. Heart Attack. Page Last Reviewed: March 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/heart-attack.aspx Accessed: 16 April 2025
  8. Heart Attack Information for Women. Page Last Updated: 22 February 2021. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/heart-attack/facts Accessed: 16 April 2025
  9. Heart Attack: Reducing Your Risk of Having A Heart Attack. Page Last Reviewed: March 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/heart-attack.aspx Accessed: 16 April 2025
Topic Last Updated: 16 April 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 16 April 2025

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