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Original poster

Heart attacks for women

97 replies

TiredandDizzy · 28/05/2022 09:42

Name changed but regular poster - i dont want my husband to know all my secrets if I show him this thread 🤣I want to start by saying I am not having a heart attack but my anxious husband thinks I am 🙄 because I have a weird pressure on my chest and feel tired and dizzy. Probs a virus (though not covid I checked!).

It got me thinking though, what DOES a heart attack feel like for women?! I know it can be different than for men and I thought it's probably a good think to know! Has anyone here has one? What was it like? I'm not after morbid details by the way, more an education so I would know what to look out for in myself/loved ones as we get older. Thanks!

OP posts:
BlanketsBanned · 28/05/2022 09:47

You can have dizzyness, nausea, shortness of breath, aching chest, pins and needles in your left arm and hand, left shoulder and neck pain, palpitations. There are many symptoms, it can only be diagnosed through an ecg and blood tests. Do you often feel dizzy with pressure on your chest.

Sweepingeyelashes · 28/05/2022 09:49

I am sorry but the last account I read about a woman's heart attack, including the disbelief, is exactly what you have posted. Typically women do not have the crushing chest pain men experience.Of course, you might have a virus but I think you should get checked out. Heart disease is the leading killer of women.

Original poster
TiredandDizzy · 28/05/2022 09:52

Great thank you! I can see how they get missed as so many of those you could easily dismiss as minor things.

No it started yesterday, feels like someone digging their nuckles right in-between my boobs and chest/back feels tight but I am not struggling for breath or anything. I tried my inhaler (developed asthma only last yr) but its not done anything so not asthma related and I'm not coughing etc. Just feel a bit off. Only dizzy when I move around. Lots of virus' going around.

OP posts:
Original poster
TiredandDizzy · 28/05/2022 09:53

@Sweepingeyelashes oh really?! Blimey. Its the weekend though so no doctors in. I can't rock up to hospital I would feel a massive fraud.

OP posts:
BlanketsBanned · 28/05/2022 09:54

It could also be something in your chest or lungs if you are asthmatic

BlanketsBanned · 28/05/2022 09:56

You can call 111 if you're a bit reluctant to get to hospital but thats probably what they will advise you to do

Original poster
TiredandDizzy · 28/05/2022 09:57

I had to go to A&E for someone at work recently, we waited 11 hours so I really don't want to go up there all day with children 😢 would you really go for my symptoms then? I really thought I'd feel more unwell if it was a heart attack?

OP posts:
cato75 · 28/05/2022 09:59

British Heart Foundation has lots of info about symptoms in women. I'm rubbish at links but please have a look.

WildCoasts · 28/05/2022 10:00

Women can have very minor symptoms of a heart attack. Your symptoms fit but they can be other things as well. Wouldn't it be better to make sure and check it out? If you call an ambulance they can check you over.

Shouldbedoing · 28/05/2022 10:01

Get checked out OP, please.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 28/05/2022 10:01

Sorry, but you need to get checked out with those symptoms.

Dilbertian · 28/05/2022 10:02

TiredandDizzy · 28/05/2022 09:53

@Sweepingeyelashes oh really?! Blimey. Its the weekend though so no doctors in. I can't rock up to hospital I would feel a massive fraud.

My GP had me call an ambulance to take me to hospital when I told her that I'd had chest pain the previous day and felt woozy. Turned out to be severe indigestion caused by medications I was on, as was the wooziness. The paramedics were absolutely fine about it, as were all the staff at A&E.

Yeah, I was embarrassed when I found out, but there was no need to be. All the HCP's were perfectly nice and insisted ' better safe than sorry'.

Go and get seen. Don't mess about.

tootiredtoocare · 28/05/2022 10:11

Heart attacks in women go undiagnosed all the time because the symptoms can be very different to those that men experience.

"While the most common symptom in both men and women is chest pain, women are more likely to have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, feeling or being sick and back or jaw pain."
www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/#:~:text=chest%20pain%20%E2%80%93%20a%20feeling%20of,sweating
The NHS website is a really good resource for health questions. It's not Dr Google, it really is worth a look.

sleepymum50 · 28/05/2022 10:14

I had a heart attack when I was 51. Neither overweight or a smoker.

I had had a previous episode while shopping. Felt exactly like a tight fist in my chest. Not really painful. I walked into my doctors. I was given the ECG? And subsequent blood test. All ok, but Dr told me if it happened again call a ambulance.

about a year later, I had a similar ‘tightness’, but this time pale/clammy and I vomited uncontrollably. Had to wait 45 mins or so for ambulance, felt ok by then, obviously anxious. Ambulance crew arrived, did the sticky pads, again all looked normal. I was presenting well, but they decided to take me in. While on route to the hospital the ecg monitor recorded a heart attack. I was given a clot busting drug in the ambulance.

The thing is while I was in the ambulance, and during the attack, I didn’t feel anything, no pain, no tightness, no nausea.

My attack was described as atypical? And it was suggested I have something called Coronary artery spasm/prinzmetals angina(sp?). This is when an artery gets blocked because of of a spasm narrowing the artery and not a blood clot.
it is very rare for them to cause a heart attack.

I hope that’s not too much detail but you did ask what it felt like. I think my symptoms were unusual so may not be a lot of help to you?

tootiredtoocare · 28/05/2022 10:16

Do you have a local minor injuries/illness walk-in centre? If you're not sure about going to A&E, they're the next best place, tell them ALL your symptoms when you get there and they should triage you first. 111 will send an emergency ambulance.

BigCheeseSandwich · 28/05/2022 10:20

Unlike men, in women heart attacks are sometimes felt in the middle of the chest (between the boobs).

sleepymum50 · 28/05/2022 10:20

Just wanted to add to the post - the initial episode that made me walk into the doctors without an appointment, was neither crushing or painful. It was just something that I’d never experience before. It was so distinctly different.

mumsys · 28/05/2022 10:22

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 28/05/2022 10:26

If you call 111 they will probably send paramedics for these symptoms. They will assess you and decide whether you need to go in. Let 111 or 999 make the decision for you.

HazelBite · 28/05/2022 10:28

Are you sure that you have asthma? I only say this as I had a friend diagnosed with this, subsequently it turned out her "breathlessness" was in fact due to heart problems.

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 28/05/2022 10:31

TiredandDizzy · 28/05/2022 09:57

I had to go to A&E for someone at work recently, we waited 11 hours so I really don't want to go up there all day with children 😢 would you really go for my symptoms then? I really thought I'd feel more unwell if it was a heart attack?

I'd phone 111 and they will know whether to dispatch an ambulance 🚑

I know exactly what you mean about an 11hour wait in A&E, there's nothing worse but try to get a friend or family member on standby and then if you have to go up they can hopefully don't have to go with you but women having heart attacks are very different to men.

Please seek some medical advice ASAP - it's like anything the sooner thing are dealt with the better ❤️

OldGreyBoots · 28/05/2022 10:37

It wasn't until after her heart attack(s) that my mum was told the back pain and pain in her legs she'd been experiencing for about 6 months were most likely indicators of her heart problems 🤔

Eeksteek · 28/05/2022 11:05

I guarantee the moment you mention chest pain to anyone remotely medical they will say a and e. Now. You might as well just go and get it over with. It probably isn’t a heart attack, so don’t panic, but you do not mess about with chest pain.

NOTANUM · 28/05/2022 11:06

Can your children stay with your DH while you go?
I went with tightness once and they did an ECG/blood tests. They took it very seriously and told me to come back if it happened again.
You do need a medical opinion to rule out a heart attack. 111 will advise you go to A&E.

Lifeafterloss22 · 28/05/2022 11:19

I was out running/ training for a half marathon at the grand age of 23 when I had a heart attack. I had a sudden sharp pain, became dizzy and collapsed to the floor. Came round a few minutes later and had a distinct pain radiating through my left arm. Fortunate enough to make it to hospital in time! And to write this today :).

Its always worth getting checked out, very simple blood test they can do at the hospital to check your troponin levels - this can only be done at your A&E though. Oh and an ECG.