Women's Warning Signs of Heart Disease

Did you know that women experience different warning signs for heart attack than men do? Women have only recently been included in large-scale medical studies, and guess what – we are not the same as men!

We have mostly heard about men’s symptoms –like the crushing pain of a heart attack—which may be why women wait longer before seeking help than men do.

The most common early warning signs women experience in the weeks BEFORE a heart attack are:

  • Unusual fatigue
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Breathlessness
  • Anxiety
  • Heart racing
  • Arms feel heavy or weak

DURING a heart attack women report:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness
  • Unusual tiredness
  • Cold sweat
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Arms heavy or weak

Women often believe they have gall bladder trouble rather than heart disease. We are also more likely than men to die or become disabled from heart disease. Learn a woman’s warning signs of heart attack and pay attention to messages from your body!

Scroll to Top