Heart Attack Symptoms in Women Over 50

Heart disease is one of the major causes of mortality in men and women over 50 years of age. Statistics show that lower number of women are found to survive a heart attack as compared to men; although there is no scientific reason or a definite cause supporting this observation. Men and women are at an equal risk of suffering from heart attack. When talking about the symptoms of heart attack, it is found that heart attack symptoms in women are slightly different from those observed in men. It is essential to be aware of the signs and symptoms of heart attack so that the condition can be diagnosed and treated quickly.

Heart Attack Symptoms in Women

It should be noted that the symptoms of heart attack vary according to gender. However, the symptoms of heart attack are quite distinguishable and hence, easy to identify. Following are the classic heart attack symptoms in women over 50:

• Breathlessness or shortness of breath which may / may not be followed by chest pain.
• Squeezing chest pain or feeling of tightness in the chest.
• Pain originating on the left side of the chest, and spreading to shoulders arms and neck.

You should not confuse symptoms of heart attack with heart burn. Chest pain is the prominent symptom of heart burn, but it appears only after having a meal. Whereas, chest pain due to heart attack can be experienced at any time during the day. Secondly, chest pain caused due to heart attack worsens over time. However, it should be noted that chest pain may or may not be experienced by women. Many women experience other symptoms along with these classic heart attack symptoms. Here are the other symptoms of heart attack that are also commonly experienced by women.

Other Symptoms of Heart Attack in Women

• Abnormal heart beats
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Indigestion
• Cough

Common Symptoms of Heart Attack in Men and Women
Of course, some symptoms of heart attack are commonly observed in both, men and women. They include:

• Discomfort in chest, shoulders and back
• Shortness of breath and chest pain
• Excessive sweating

As mentioned above, women over 50 years of age have a lower rate of survival after a heart attack. This may be due to lack of knowledge about the symptoms or inaccessibility to proper treatment. If the symptoms are diagnosed earlier, there are higher chances of survival.

Heart Attack in Younger Women

Although it is believed that heart attack is observed only in case of older women, i.e., above 50 years of age; recent studies have concluded that it can also be found in younger women. Therefore, the aforementioned symptoms are not limited to older women. Diabetes and hypertension are considered as dominant causes of heart attack in younger women. However, as the classic symptoms of heart attack are not always observed in women, the symptoms often go unnoticed. Hence, it is essential for women to be aware of all the possible heart attack symptoms. For further information, let us also take a look at the causes or risk factors for heart attack.

Risk Factors for Heart Attack

Obesity and high cholesterol are the major causes of heart attack in men and women. Extra weight exerts excess pressure on the arteries, thus, resulting in coronary heart diseases. On the other hand, smoking, high blood pressure (also known as hypertension), stress, diabetes, lack of physical activity, and heredity, etc. are also some of the factors leading to heart diseases.

But, on the other hand, women must also be aware of the preventive measures that need to be taken in order to prevent a heart attack. For e.g., obesity and cholesterol can be controlled just by changing diet and lifestyle. It is essential to maintain a healthy body weight. Similarly, one can reduce stress by different techniques, stop smoking, and also live an active lifestyle in order to prevent the onset of heart diseases.

If a woman experiences any of these symptoms of heart attack, she should immediately call for the paramedics. Remember that it is essential to maintain proper heart health by following the aforementioned measures. Every woman must be aware of the causes and symptoms of heart attack; and should not ignore any discomfort causing symptoms. Take care!