Heart Attack

“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”.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 Prevent A Heart Attack?
  6. Can You Stop A Heart Attack Once It Starts?
  7. Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
    Heart Attack
  8. Cardiac Arrest vs Heart Attack
  9. Common Questions About Heart Attack In Women
  10. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Menopause and Heart Disease
  11. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  12. Coronary Heart Disease
  13. Diagnosing A Heart Attack
  14. Does HRT Cause Heart Attacks?
  15. FAQs: Heart Health for Women
  16. February Is American Heart Month
    Heart Attack
  17. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women]
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  19. Healthy Lifestyle
  20. Healthy Living
  21. Healthy Living
  22. Heart Attack
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  28. Heart Attack Information for Women
  29. Heart Attack Prevention: Should I Avoid Secondhand Smoke?
  30. Heart Attack Symptoms In Women
  31. Heart Attack Symptoms In Women Are Often Different Than Men
  32. Heart Attack Symptoms: Know What’s A Medical Emergency
  33. Heart Attack Timing: Warning Signs [Video]
  34. Heart Attack Tools and Resources
  35. Heart Attack Warning Signs
  36. Heart Attack [+ Video: What Is A Heart Attack]
  37. Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms
  38. Heart Attack and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Differences?
  39. Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest: What’s the Difference?
  40. Heart Attack: Diagnosis & Treatment
  41. Heart Attack: Prevention
  42. Heart Attack: Prevention
  43. Heart Attack: Recovery
  44. Heart Attack: Screening and Prevention
  45. Heart Attack: Symptoms
  46. Heart Attack: Symptoms & Causes
  47. Heart Attack: Symptoms of A Heart Attack
  48. Heart Disease
  49. Heart Disease and Women
  50. Heart Disease: About Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery
  51. Heart Health Information In Your Language: Heart Attack Warning Signs Action Plans
  52. Heart Health Information In Your Language: Will You Recognise Your Heart Attack? Fact Sheet
  53. Heart Health for Women
  54. Heart-Healthy Eating
  55. Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Changes
  56. Heartburn or Heart Attack: When To Worry
  57. Heartburn or Heart Attack?
  58. How To Prevent A Heart Attack
  59. How To Prevent Heart Disease After Menopause
  60. How To Tell the Difference Between A Heart Attack and Panic Attack
  61. Ischemic Heart Disease: What Should Women Know?
  62. Is That Pain In Your Chest Heartburn or a Heart Attack?
  63. Keep Your Heart Healthy
  64. Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life
  65. Know Your Risk
  66. Know the Symptoms
  67. Lifestyle Changes for Heart Attack Prevention
  68. Life’s Essential 8
  69. Make the Call. Don’t Miss A Beat. [Heart Attack Campaign for Women]
  70. Mayo Clinic Minute: How A Coronary Calcium Scan Assesses Heart Attack 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&A: Can Holiday Stress Trigger A Heart Attack?
  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. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – Evaluating High-Risk Patients In Menopause At Risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
  76. Questions About Heart Attack, Blood Pressure, BMI or Stroke? Find Answers Here
  77. Silent Heart Attack: What Are the Risks?
  78. Stress Management
  79. Symptoms of A Heart Attack
  80. Symptoms of Heart Attack & Stroke In Women
  81. The Heart Truth
  82. Treatment of A Heart Attack
  83. Understand Your Risks To Prevent A Heart Attack
  84. (Video) Heart Disease In Women: 4 Things A Mayo Clinic Cardiologist Wants You To Know [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  85. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Cardiovascular Disease In Women
  86. Warning Signs of A Heart Attack
    Heart Attack
  87. Watch, Learn and Live. Heart Attack [Interactive]
  88. What Are Early Signs of A Heart Attack?
  89. What Is A Heart Attack?
  90. What Is A Heart Attack?
  91. What Is Cardiac Arrest?
  92. What To Do If Someone Is Having A Heart Attack
  93. What To Do If Someone Is Having A Heart Attack [Video]
  94. What’s the Difference Between A Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest? One’s About Plumbing, the Other Wiring
  95. Women and Heart Attacks
  96. Womenheart.org [WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease, United States]
  97. World Heart Day [29 September]
    Heart Attack
  98. World Menopause Day 2023
  99. 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: 04 February 2026
  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: 04 February 2026
  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: 04 February 2026
  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: 04 February 2026
  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: 04 February 2026
  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: 04 February 2026
  7. Heart Attack. Page Last Reviewed: March 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/heart-attack.aspx Accessed: 04 February 2026
  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: 04 February 2026
  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: 04 February 2026
Topic Last Updated: 04 February 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 04 February 2026

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