Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women globally but has a high rate of being missed or misdiagnosed in women. One of the main reasons women’s symptoms of heart disease are often misdiagnosed or missed is because of the differences in how women and men usually present with heart disease. Women have different hormones than men and have smaller coronary arteries, which can make presenting symptoms of heart disease in women different. Also, symptoms of anxiety and fatigue are often mistaken for symptoms of cardiac issues.
1. A typical Fatigue
A typical fatigue is one of the most common early signs of heart disease. Women can have atypical fatigue weeks or days before having a heart attack. Many women report an unusual level of tiredness that does not go away after a good night’s sleep or a restful day. Atypical fatigue can impact a woman’s ability to perform her normal daily tasks.
2. Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is another common symptom when a woman has heart disease. A woman can have shortness of breath when doing normal daily activities, as well as on laying down, with or without chest pain. Shortness of breath may occur due to the reduced efficiency at which the heart is able to pump blood through the vessels to the rest of the body.
3. Chest Discomfort (Not Always Pain)
Although chest pain continues to be a major warning sign for heart problems, some women will use different descriptions to describe the pain within their chests such as “pressure”, “tightness”, “fullness”, or “burning” rather than describing the pain as “sharp”. Additionally, many women may not perceive the amount of discomfort as being significant enough to warrant any type of treatment even if it goes away and comes back intermittently.
4. Pain in Other Areas
The next indicator of a heart attack is pain moving beyond the chest area into the neck, jaw, shoulders, upper back, or arms. While women commonly experience this spreading pain during a heart attack, it is often misdiagnosed as either a muscle strain or an indigestion issue.
5. Nausea, Vomiting, or Indigestion
Another warning indicator is nausea, vomiting, or indigestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as these may be early indication(s) that a woman may be experiencing a heart attack; however, usually, the symptoms are misdiagnosed as either digestive or gastric issues.
6. Dizziness or Lightheadedness
The next indicator of a heart attack is dizziness or lightheadedness. Dizziness can be caused by decreased blood flow to the brain and could indicate an issue with the heart if there are additional symptoms associated with it.
7. Cold Sweats
Another common indicator of a heart attack is experiencing cold sweating without a logical reason (such as strenuous exercise, lying in bed or being subjected to extreme heat). Cold sweating may indicate some degree of distress to the body, including a heart-related emergency.
8. Sleep Disturbances
Sleep problems are common for many women during the weeks before a heart attack. It is also very common for many women to have trouble sleeping and wake often. While it is usually considered a small problem, sleep problems may be an indication that something else is wrong.
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When to Seek Medical Help?
If you have any of these symptoms, such as shortness of breath, discomfort in your chest, or pain radiating to another part of your body, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Getting medical help early can help prevent complications and increase your chances of survival.
Prevention and Awareness
Heart health should be maintained through regular exercise, healthy eating, stress management, and monitoring of conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. You should also visit your doctor regularly to check for personal risk factors and/or conditions that could lead to coronary artery disease.
Bottom line
Heart disease in women often has subtle or easily missed symptoms. Being aware of these early symptoms and acting promptly can save your life. For women and doctors, being aware of heart disease can help reduce the number of cases of heart disease worldwide.
