Signs and Symptoms
Some heart attack symptoms—such as back pain, jaw pain, fatigue and nausea—are common to women and may occur over the course of several days rather than appear suddenly. Similarly, some stroke symptoms, such as disorientation and headache, may also be more common, yet less pronounced, in women.
The important thing to remember is that if you experience any of these symptoms, it’s crucial that you seek medical treatment within one hour of symptom onset—when treatment will be most effective. You may also want to consider taking an aspirin at the first sign of heart attack symptoms.
Every second counts. Call 9-1-1 if you see or have any of these symptoms.
Heart Attack Warning Signs:
Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
Pain spreading to the jaw, neck, shoulder or arm
Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath
Less Common Signs in Women:
- Atypical chest pain, stomach or abdominal pain
- Nausea or dizziness without chest pain
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing without chest pain
- Unexplained anxiety, weakness or fatigue
- Palpitations, cold sweats or paleness
Common Stroke Symptoms:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or trouble walking
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause