Upper Body Discomfort
Women who suffer from heart attacks often report pain or discomfort in one or both arms, in the back, neck, jaw or stomach area.
Shortness of Breath/Lightheadedness
Whether or not you experience chest pain, having shortness of breath or difficulty catching your breath can be a sign of a heart attack. Some women have reported feeling like they’ve just run a marathon or completed a grueling workout while sitting still.
Nausea and Stomach Pain
Nausea, vomiting or general epigastric discomfort (upper middle abdominal pain), especially when accompanied by other symptoms, can be an indicator of a heart attack in women. Some women confuse the stomach pain that signals a heart attack with heartburn or flu-like symptoms. Some women experience severe abdominal pressure.
Jaw Pain
Jaw pain, toothaches, and headaches are commonly reported symptoms of women who are suffering heart attacks.
Sweating
A common symptom in women having a heart attack is breaking out in a cold, nervous sweat. It is often compared to a nervous, stress-related sweat, rather than the kind of perspiration we experience after exercising or spending time in the heat.
General Malaise
Many patients who’ve suffered a heart attack have reported a general feeling of illness, or general malaise, leading up to their heart attacks.
Fatigue
Many women who experience the onset of a heart attack feel extreme fatigue, even when they have been sitting still. Women who experience this symptom may find difficulty performing a simple task, like walking to the bathroom.