Heart Attack Symptoms

“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 Symptoms Umbrella include?

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

  • Heart Attack Signs
  • Heart Attack Symptoms
  • Heart Attack Warning Signs

First Step

What is the first step to surviving a heart attack?

In Know the Symptoms the (United States) Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH) elaborate on:

“The first step to surviving a heart attack is to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack”.2

Heart Attack SymptomsEarly Warning Signs

What are early warning signs of a heart attack?

In What Are Early Warning Signs of A Heart Attack? Early Signs Before A Heart Attack the (United States) Cleveland Clinic include:

“The most common early signs of a heart attack are:

  • Chest pain or discomfort that comes and goes
  • Unusual fatigue
  • Shortness of breath with usual activities
  • Episodes of nausea
  • The sense that you just don’t feel right

These may occur together or on their own”.3

Symptoms

What are symptoms of a heart attack?

In Heart Attack: Symptoms the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

“Symptoms of a heart attack vary. Some people have mild symptoms. Others have severe symptoms. Some people have no symptoms.

Common heart attack symptoms include:

  • Chest pain that may feel like pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing or aching
  • Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly
  • Cold sweat
  • Fatigue
  • Heartburn or indigestion
  • Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Shortness of breath”.4

Heart Attack Symptoms Heart Attack SymptomsDifferent Differences

May women have different heart attack symptoms from men?

In Heart Attack: Symptoms the Mayo Clinic also note:

“Women may have atypical symptoms such as brief or sharp pain felt in the neck, arm or back. Sometimes, the first symptom sign of a heart attack is sudden cardiac arrest”.5

Women

In women, what is the most common heart attack symptom?

In Common Questions About Heart Attack In Women the American Heart Association elaborate on:

“Many women think the signs of a heart attack are unmistakable — the image of the elephant comes to mind — but in fact they can be subtler and sometimes confusing”.6

In Know the Symptoms the OWH explain:

“The most common heart attack symptom in women and men is chest pain. However, women are more likely to have at least one of these other heart attack signs.

Many women say that they felt “off” or that something was “just not right” before their heart attack, but they didn’t realize their symptoms could be related to their heart. Not all heart attacks feel the same. Some are sudden and intense. Others may start slowly with mild pain or discomfort, which can come and go over several hours, or get worse…”.7

In Heart Attack Symptoms In Women the American Heart Association elaborate on:

“If you have any of these signs, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.

  • Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It may last more than a few minutes or go away and come back
  • Pain or discomfort in the:
    • Arms (one or or both)
    • Back
    • Neck
    • Jaw
    • Stomach
  • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort

Other signs including:

  • Breaking out in a cold sweat
  • Nausea
  • Lightheadedness

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. Some women having a heart attack describe upper back pressure that feels like squeezing or a rope being tied around them. Women may have other symptoms that are typically less associated with heart attack, such as:

  • Anxiety
  • Shortness of breath
  • Upset stomach
  • Pain in the shoulder, back or arm
  • Unusual tiredness and weakness”.8

If you do not live in the United States call your country’s emergency telephone number.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

Can different countries have different emergency telephone numbers?

Different countries can have different emergency telephone numbers. It may therefore be in your best interest to choose to check what your country’s emergency telephone number is because “Minutes Matter!”

Don’t Delay

Do women delay seeking medical attention?

In Heart Attack Information for Women the OWH note:

“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.

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”.9 

Health Topics A-Z

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

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Heart Attack Symptoms?

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Links

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  48. What To Do If Someone Is Having A Heart Attack
  49. What To Do If Someone Is Having A Heart Attack [Video]
  50. Women & CVD
    Heart Attack Symptoms
  51. Women and Heart Attacks
  52. Womenheart.org [Women Heart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease, United States]

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/heart-attack/facts Accessed: 10 February 2026
  2. Know the Symptoms. 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/know-symptoms Accessed: 10 February 2026
  3. What Are Early Warning Signs of A Heart Attack? Early Signs before A heart Attack. 08 January 2026. Cleveland Clinic https://health.clevelandclinic.org/early-signs-of-a-heart-attack Accessed: 10 February 2026
  4. Heart Attack: Symptoms. 09 October 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20373106 Accessed: 10 February 2026
  5. Heart Attack: Symptoms. 09 October 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20373106 Accessed: 10 February 2026
  6. Common Questions About Heart Attack In Women: Why Are Women At Risk of Heart Attack? Last Reviewed: 28 March 2025. American Heart Association https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart-disease-in-women/signs-and-symptoms-in-women/common-questions-about-heart-attack-in-women Accessed: 10 February 2026
  7. Know the Symptoms. 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/know-symptoms Accessed: 10 February 2026
  8. Heart Attack Symptoms In Women. Last Reviewed: 13 December 2024. American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack/heart-attack-symptoms-in-women Accessed: 10 February 2026
  9. 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: 10 February 2026
Topic Last Updated: 10 February 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 10 February 2026

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