Women account for almost 50 percent of all heart attack deaths, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). While heart disease is the No. 1 killer of both men and women, women are less likely to recognize the signs of an attack and take longer to receive treatment.
Prevention
Women are more likely to average about 10 years older than men who have heart attacks, reported researchers at the NHLBI. They tend to have more extenuating conditions that lead to the distress. Diseases such as diabetes, congestive heart failure and high blood pressure are common ailments present in women who have heart attacks. Those with conditions that stress the heart should pay particular attention to any warning signs of heart problems.
Risks
Women at risk for a heart attack share other common ailments not usually present in men who have heart attacks, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic. Metabolic syndrome, which consists of a high level of fat around the abdomen, coupled with high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels and elevated blood sugar counts tend to be more at risk for a heart attack than men with similar symptoms. Depression and stress tend to take a greater toll on women's hearts than on men. Later in life, following menopause, lower estrogen levels also play a role in putting women at higher risk for heart attacks. Smoking is riskier for women than for men as well, especially for those with a family history of heart disease.
Early Signs
Doctors at Accent Health reported that women often have warning signs of an imminent heart attack as long as a month prior to the attack and do not realize the implications of their symptoms. Fatigue and sleeping disorders are common among women prior to a heart attack. In retrospect, many women report symptoms such as uncommon indigestion, anxiety and shortness of breath in the weeks preceding the heart attack.
Attack
Like men, women experience pain in the center of the chest as the heart attack begins. Sudden pain in other areas of the upper body such as the neck, arms, back or stomach also could indicate signs of a heart attack. Women are more likely than men to have other symptoms as well, including nausea and vomiting, breaking out in a cold sweat, shortness of breath and jaw or back pain.
Misinterpretations
Women often misinterpret the signs of a heart attack, reported Accent Health practitioners. Women often misperceive the signs of labored breathing and fatigue as signals that they are out of shape or have not been getting enough rest due to work and family obligations. The doctors caution women to pay attention to any signs that are out of the ordinary. Women often report their vague symptoms as not feeling like themselves in the weeks and months prior to a heart attack, making a diagnosis difficult for treating physicians.
