How to Identify Female Heart Attack Symptoms
To identify female heart attack symptoms, first look out for discomfort in the chest or upper back. This might feel like pain, pressure, tightness, or heaviness, and it may be accompanied by nausea. You should also make note of any pain or discomfort radiating up into your neck or jaw. Additionally, look for symptoms like light-headedness, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Some women may also experience stomach pain, indigestion, or nausea. Finally, check for subtler symptoms, such as anxiety, weakness, and fatigue.
Take note of any discomfort in your chest or back. One of the main symptoms of a heart attack is a sensation of heaviness, tightness, squeezing, or pressure in the chest or upper back. This pain may not be sudden or severe. It may last for a few minutes, then go away and come back. Some people mistake heart attack pain for heartburn or indigestion. If this pain does not start soon after eating, if you do not usually have heartburn, or if it is accompanied by nausea (feeling like you are going to vomit), you need to visit the emergency room. Identify any discomfort in your upper body. Women suffering from a heart attack may experience sharp pain that resembles a toothache or earache in the jaw, neck, shoulder or back. This pain occurs because the nerves supplying these areas are also supplying the heart. This pain may come and go for a while before it becomes more intense. It may even be so intense that it wakes you up during the night. These pains may be felt in each location at once, or in only some of the locations listed. Women often don't experience pain in their arm or shoulder men often report when they have a heart attack. Look for any dizziness and/or lightheadedness. If you suddenly feel faint, your heart may not be getting the blood it needs. If shortness of breath or a cold sweat accompanies the dizziness (feeling as if the room is spinning) or lightheadedness (feeling like you may faint), you could be having a heart attack. Decreased blood flow to the brain causes these symptoms. Notice shortness of breath. If you feel winded all of a sudden, this could be a sign of a heart attack. Feeling winded means that you feel as if you cannot catch your breath. If you are feeling short of breath, try breathing through pursed lips (as if you are going to whistle). You use less energy when you breathe this way. This method of breathing may also help you feel more relaxed and lessen the "shortness of breath" feeling. When you have a heart attack, the blood pressure in your lungs and heart rise while the pumping function of the heart decreases. Watch for any gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, indigestion, and vomiting. Gastrointestinal symptoms are more common symptoms of a heart attack for women than for men. These symptoms are often overlooked by women as the result of stress or the flu. It is the result of poor circulation and a lack of oxygen in the blood. The feelings of nausea and indigestion may last for a while. Consider whether you had difficulty catching your breath upon waking. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues in the mouth, such as the tongue and throat, block the upper airway. A sleep apnea diagnosis means that you stop breathing for at least 10 seconds repeatedly while asleep. This interruption in the breathing process decreases the blood flow from the heart. Research from Yale University suggests that sleep apnea increases the risk of dying or of having a heart attack by 30 percent (over a five-year period). If you wake and cannot catch your breath, you could be having a heart attack. Think about whether you’re feeling anxious. Sweating, shortness of breath and a rapid heartbeat (racing heart) frequently occur with anxiety. These symptoms are also common with a heart attack. If you suddenly feel anxious (restless), this could be your nerves reacting to the overexertion of your heart. The anxiety may also cause insomnia for some women. Look for weakness and fatigue. Though fatigue is a common symptom of many conditions, including a busy week at work, fatigue can also be caused by a decreased flow of blood to your brain. If you are having difficulty completing your daily tasks because you need to stop and rest (more than usual), blood may not be pumping through your body at its regular rate, and may indicate that you are at risk for a heart attack. Some women also report a feeling of heaviness in their legs in the weeks or months leading up to a heart attack. Know that women are more likely to die from a heart attack. Women who have a heart attack are more likely to die as a result of delayed treatment or misdiagnosis. If you think that you are having a heart attack, make sure that you say so when you call emergency services. This will help to ensure that your doctor will consider the possibility of a heart attack, even if your symptoms are not typical heart attack symptoms. Do not delay treatment if you think you may be having a heart attack or having heart problems. Recognize the difference between a heart attack and a panic attack. A panic attack usually occurs because of a stressful situation. What actually causes an individual to suffer with panic disorder is unknown; however, this condition tends to run in families. Women and individuals in their 20s or 30s are at higher risk for suffering panic attacks. Symptoms that are commonly experienced during a panic attack, but are not common during a heart attack include : Intense terror Sweaty palms Flushed face Chills Muscle twitching Feeling like you need to escape Fear of '”going crazy” Hot flashes Trouble swallowing, or a tightness in your throat Headache These symptoms may end within five minutes, or may peak after 20 minutes. Seek medical assistance if you experience symptoms of panic attack, but have previously had a heart attack. If anyone who has previously experienced a heart attack has any of the symptoms listed above, they should visit the emergency room. An individual who has been diagnosed with a panic disorder and is concerned about suffering a heart attack should request a cardiac evaluation. 
Take note of any discomfort in your chest or back. Identify any discomfort in your upper body. Look for any dizziness and/or lightheadedness. Notice shortness of breath. Watch for any gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, indigestion, and vomiting. Consider whether you had difficulty catching your breath upon waking. Think about whether you’re feeling anxious. Look for weakness and fatigue. Know that women are more likely to die from a heart attack. Recognize the difference between a heart attack and a panic attack. Seek medical assistance if you experience symptoms of panic attack, but have previously had a heart attack. 