8 Symptoms of a Heart Attack to Watch For in Women

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, and your risk climbs as you get older — especially after 50. As estrogen levels fall, changes in your cholesterol, blood pressure, body fat, and blood vessels make coronary heart disease, and a heart attack, more likely. Some warning signs are subtle. Here are eight you shouldn't ignore.

Chest pain or discomfort is the most common heart attack symptom in women. It can last more than a few minutes, or come and go. You may feel it in the center of your chest, or in your lower chest, or upper belly. It doesn't have to be severe to be serious. You may feel pressure, squeezing, fullness, tightness, or heaviness, like a rope is tied around your chest. You may feel burning or an uncomfortable ache. It's possible to have a heart attack without chest pain.

This isn't ordinary end-of-day tiredness. You may feel exhausted by activities that normally wouldn't wear you out, such as taking a shower, getting dressed, or walking to the mailbox. In one study, about 7 in 10 women recalled unusual fatigue before their heart attack.

Heart attack discomfort can be felt beyond your chest. You may feel pain, pressure, aching, or discomfort in your jaw, neck, throat, one or both arms, between your shoulders, or in your upper back. It may come and go or linger. You might mistake the discomfort as being from a pulled muscle, stress, tension, or sleeping in an awkward position.

You may have trouble catching your breath even though you haven't exerted yourself. This can happen with or without chest discomfort. You may feel dizzy or lightheaded, too. You might chalk it up to anxiety or being out of shape. But if it's new or comes with other symptoms, see your doctor.

You may have nausea, vomiting, indigestion, heartburn, or discomfort high in your belly area during a heart attack. It may feel like you ate something that didn't agree with you, or you have a stomach bug. But it may be more serious if the feeling is new, unexplained, unusually severe, or if it comes with symptoms such as shortness of breath, sweating, chest discomfort, or unusual fatigue.

This isn't sweating because you exercised, got overheated, or had a hot flash. A heart attack can cause a sudden cold, clammy sweat for no obvious reason. It may come along with chest discomfort, nausea, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness.

You may suddenly feel dizzy, lightheaded, weak, or as though you might faint. Don't assume it's dehydration, hunger, or standing up too fast — especially if it's new or you also have chest discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, or unusual fatigue.

A heart attack can bring sudden anxiety, restlessness, or a feeling of dread, and this may be more common in women. Even though a panic attack can cause some of the same sensations, don't assume anxiety is the cause — especially if the feeling is new and comes with other symptoms of heart attack.

A heart attack doesn't always announce itself with crushing chest pain or a sudden collapse. Symptoms may be mild, build gradually, or come and go. Don't wait for your symptoms to become severe, or try to decide yourself whether it's heartburn, anxiety, or something else. Call 911 for emergency help.