Signs of Heart Attacks in Women

What is the most important hour of your life? Maybe it's the hour you gave birth. Or the hour you met the love of your life.

Or it could be the first hour after you have a heart attack.

Don’t hesitate to call 911

Women are more likely than men to delay seeking medical care for a heart attack. In fact, women are more likely to die of a heart attack than men — in part because they often wait longer to call for help.

Recognizing symptoms and seeking treatment early in the course of a heart attack greatly increases your chances of getting life-saving care.  Some heart attack medications are most effective at limiting or preventing heart attack damage if taken within one hour of the onset of symptoms.

What it feels like

Women may hesitate to call 911 because they don't think they're having a heart attack. The risk of having a heart attack increases if you smoke, have diabetes, are older than 65 or have high blood pressure. It's important to know that heart disease is the number one killer of women and it is vital to recognize heart attack warning signs.

Signs of a heart attack aren't the same for everyone. According to, Dr. Beth Malasky, a cardiologist with Idaho Heart Care, "Women may experience shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, back or jaw pain as their predominant symptom, like their male counterparts, 90% of women also have chest pressure, pain or discomfort." Prior to the heart attack, the symptoms may come and go then intensify and become continuous.  Keep in mind that symptoms can be mild or come on slowly. Chest pressure or tightness might be a more accurate descriptor than chest pain for the symptoms of a heart attack

It's an emergency

Embarrassment prevents some women from seeking emergency care for a heart attack, reports the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

You might not want to admit that your symptoms may be serious. Or you may not want to bother or worry others or act as if it's an emergency in case it turns out to be a false alarm.

You should always immediately call for help, whether you're sure you're having a heart attack or not. The longer you wait to seek care, the more likely it is that you will have permanent or even fatal heart damage.

The best way to get emergency care is to call 911. Calling 911 brings emergency care to your door so that you receive treatment even before you get to the hospital.

Don't wait longer than five minutes after the onset of symptoms to call 911, advises the NIH. And even if your symptoms stop completely in less than five minutes, call your doctor.

Once you arrive at the hospital, don't be embarrassed to let doctors know what you need. You are not overreacting. You have the right to ask for tests to determine if you've had a heart attack.

For more information, check out our Women's Heart Care Program