Symptoms can vary, and commonly include chest pain. The NHS explains that the chest can feel like it’s being pressed or squeezed by a heavy object. It is estimated that around 1.4 million people alive in the UK today have survived a heart attack – around one million men and 380,000 women.
The American Heart Association (AHA) has outlined a number of signs, including those which women may be more likely to experience, and says “get to a hospital right away” if you experience any.
These include: “Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the centre of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.”
They also include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach and shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
“Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness,” the organisation’s site reads.
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The AHA explains: “As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort.
“But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.”
Indeed, the NHS notes that though the chest pain is often severe, some people may only experience minor pain, similar to indigestion.
“In some cases, there may not be any chest pain at all, especially in women, older people, and people who have diabetes,” it says.
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The British Heart Foundation (BHF) notes: “We know that women tend to wait longer before calling 999 after experiencing heart attack symptoms.
“In the UK, an average of three women die of coronary heart disease every hour, many of them due to a heart attack. You dramatically reduce your chance of survival if you don’t call 999 straight away.”
The AHA notes: “Even when the signs are subtle, the consequences can be deadly, especially if the victim doesn’t get help right away.”
“Many women think the signs of a heart attack are unmistakable — the image of the elephant comes to mind — but in fact they can be subtler and sometimes confusing,” the organsation warns.
The AHA says some heart attacks are sudden and intense, though most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort.
In the UK, healthcare costs relating to heart and circulatory diseases are estimated at £9 billion each year, according to the BHF.
Although heart attacks can be fatal, survival is improving. The BHF says in the 1960s more than seven out of 10 heart attacks in the UK were fatal, while today at least seven out of 10 people survive.
Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce your risk of having a heart attack, such as adopting healthy lifestyle routines.
