A nursing research study indicated that 95% of the women who had heart attacks realized at least one month prior that their symptoms were new or different. The most common symptom, which manifested in greater than 70% of the women was fatigue. Sleep disturbance was second, with shortness of breath the third most common presenting symptoms.
Almost half of the women said they had no chest pain prior to heart attack or during heart attack. Chest pain is considered the hallmark of heart attacks by physicians.
Symptoms of a heart attack in women in order of frequency were:
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Unusual fatigue
• Cold sweat
• Dizziness
Gender differences do make a difference, and physicians need to have an increased awareness of the differences.
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