Heart attack

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked for an extended period, causing damage to the heart muscle. While both men and women can experience heart attacks, the symptoms and their presentation can differ in women. 

Heart attacks are often perceived to be a men’s problem, but on average 3,000 women die from one each year in Aotearoa New Zealand. That’s more than eight women a day losing their life to a heart attack. 

Common symptoms in men and women

• Chest pain or discomfort: Often described as a pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the centre or left side of the chest.
• Shortness of breath: Can occur with or without chest discomfort.
• Pain in other areas: Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Cold sweat
• Nausea or vomiting
• Lightheadedness or dizziness

Symptoms specific to women

Women are more likely than men to experience heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain. These symptoms may include:

• Unusual fatigue: Often several days leading up to a heart attack, women may feel extremely tired and cannot attribute it to any reason.
• Shortness of breath: Can occur when resting or during physical activity, often without chest pain.
• Upper back pain: Can feel like burning, tightness, or squeezing.
• Nausea and vomiting: More common in women compared to men.
• Jaw pain: Uncommon in men but can be a primary symptom in women.
• Indigestion or a feeling of a severe stomach pain: Often mistaken for digestive issues.
• Pain in the neck or throat: Discomfort that radiates up to the throat or neck.

Risk factors

Women and men largely share the same risk factors for heart disease including:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol levels
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Being overweight or obese 
• Lack of physical activity
• Unhealthy diet: An unhealthy diet high in saturated fat, trans fat, LDL cholesterol, salt and sugar can contribute to being an unhealthy weight and increase the risk of high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
• Alcohol: Long-term alcohol intake can damage the heart muscle,
• Family history of heart disease
• Age (Higher risk as you get older)

However women are more vulnerable to some risk factors than men. Heart disease tends to occur slightly later in women because a woman's risk increases as she goes through menopause. Women also have some risks related to pregnancy and hormonal dysfunction. These include:

• Menopause: The risk increases after menopause.
• Pregnancy-related disorders: Preeclampsia, gestational diabetes.
• Autoimmune diseases: Higher prevalence in women can contribute to heart disease.

When to seek emergency help

If you or someone else experiences any of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical help immediately:

• Chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
• Severe shortness of breath.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Any combination of symptoms such as chest pain with shortness of breath, nausea, or a cold sweat.

In New Zealand, call 111 for an ambulance and seek immediate medical attention.

Resources:

• Heart Foundation New Zealand: Offers information and support for heart health. Heart Foundation NZ  Phone: 0800 863 375‍
• New Zealand Cardiac Society: Provides information and resources on cardiovascular health. NZ Cardiac Society

Top Tip
One of the best things you can do is understand your heart disease risk. Find out who in your direct family has heart disease and ask your doctor if you are eligible for a free Heart Health Check