Symptoms of Heart Attack May Present Differently in Men and Women

According to the American Heart Association, approximately every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and approximately every minute, someone will die of one. While this statistic is concerning for anyone, it’s slightly more distressing for women. Since 1984, the number of female deaths due to cardiovascular disease has exceeded the number of male deaths. Because symptoms of heart attack may present differently in females than in their male counterparts, it’s vital that intensive care unit (ICU) professionals be familiar with, and prepared to handle, these gender-specific indicators.

Women may experience early signs and symptoms of heart attack.
New or different physical symptoms may present themselves in women up to a month or more before a heart attack occurs, according to research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In fact, 95 percent of the women studied noticed new symptoms a month before experiencing a heart attack or acute myocardial infarction. The most commonly reported symptoms included unusual fatigue, sleep disturbance and shortness of breath.

In women, chest pain may not be one of the symptoms of heart attack.
In the NIH study, less than one in three women experienced chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks, and two in five reported that they experienced no chest pain during their heart attacks. Women reported experiencing the following signs and symptoms of heart attack prior to their attacks:

Unusual fatigue - 70%
Sleep disturbance - 48%
Shortness of breath - 42%
Indigestion - 39%
Anxiety - 35%

Women reported experiencing the following symptoms of heart attack during their attacks:

Shortness of breath - 58%
Weakness - 55%
Unusual fatigue - 43%
Cold sweat - 39%
Dizziness - 39%

Why are women at an elevated risk for heart attacks?
While researchers are examining a number of potential reasons, the following three possibilities offer some explanation:

Researchers are looking into coronary artery plaque buildup in men versus women to determine if women experience more plaque buildup and why.
Women are more likely than men to develop coronary microvascular disease, a condition that affects the hearts arteries. Most experts attribute this elevated risk to a drop in estrogen levels during menopause, combined with other heart disease risk factors.
Broken heart syndrome, a recently recognized heart problem in which extreme emotional stress can lead to severe heart failure, is more common in women than in men.

How can women prevent heart attacks?
The Mayo Clinic recommends women follow these five guidelines to reduce their risk for heart attacks:

Don’t smoke or use tobacco products.
Try to get 30-60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity most days of the week.
Eat foods that are low in fat, cholesterol and salt.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Get regular health screenings; measure blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and consider a diabetes screening.

How can ICU professionals help?
Knowledge of advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) interventions will enable you to recognize risk factors, understand warning signs and quickly respond to emergency events. Early intervention remains essential to ensure the best possible heart attack outcomes.

About Health Ed Solutions
Health Ed Solutions offers online ACLS certification and recertification courses, as well as the American Heart Association’s HeartCode® ACLS Part 1.