Signs of Disease
It is important for women to know the signs and symptoms of heart disease that they may experience. These are often not the same as that man with heart disease experiences. Women are more likely to die following a heart attack than men. If you are experienceing symptoms of a heart attack, dial 911 immediately!
Heart Disease Signs & Symptoms
Click on the conditions below to learn more about the signs and symptoms unique to women:
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Heart Attack
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The most common symptom of heart attack in men and women is chest pain or discomfort. However, only half of women who have heart attacks have chest pain.
Women are more likely to report back or neck pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, extreme fatigue, or problems breathing.
Signs of a Heart Attack
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Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
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A common symptom of CHD is angina. Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood.
In men, angina often feels like pressure or a squeezing pain in the chest. This feeling may extend to the arms. Women also can have these angina symptoms. But women also tend to describe a sharp, burning chest pain. Women also are more likely to have pain in the neck, jaw, throat, abdomen, or back.
In men, angina tends to get worse with physical activity and go away with rest. Women are more likely than men to have angina while they're resting or sleeping.
Symptoms of CHD
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Angina - dull/heavy to sharp chest pain or discomfort
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Pain in neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back
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Arrhythmia
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An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm.
Some people describe arrhythmias as fluttering or thumping feelings or skipped beats in their chests. These feelings are called palpitations.
Symptoms of Arrhythmia
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Fluttering feelings
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Palpitations
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Heart Failure
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Heart failure is a condition in which your heart weakens and can't pump enough blood throughout your body. Heart failure doesn't mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. It means that your heart can't cope with the demands of everyday activities. Heart failure causes shortness of breath and fatigue that tends to increase with activity.
Symptoms of Heart Failure
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Shortness of breath
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Fatigue
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Swelling in feet, ankles, legs and abdomen
The Women's Heart Health information on the Aspirus Heart & Vascular Institute website is supported by a donation of funds raised at the 2010 Aspirus Women's Health Golf Outing.
