A heart attack does not always cause severe chest pain.
In women, the symptoms can be more subtle, making them easier to overlook or misinterpret.
Extreme fatigue
Unusual and overwhelming fatigue can be a warning sign, particularly when it occurs alongside muscle weakness or other symptoms.
A study published in BMJ found that 70 percent of women who had experienced a heart attack reported unusual fatigue.
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Shortness of breath
It can be serious if you suddenly become short of breath while sitting still or can no longer climb a familiar flight of stairs without difficulty.
Shortness of breath can be a sign of a heart attack even if you do not have chest pain.
Indigestion
A heart attack can feel like severe indigestion because the heart is located just above the stomach.
Seek medical attention if the discomfort is unusually severe, lasts longer than usual and does not improve with antacids.
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Heartburn
Some people may mistake a heart attack for heartburn.
Sudden discomfort that you have not experienced before, that lasts for more than five to seven minutes and persists despite rest should be taken seriously.
Jaw pain
Reduced blood flow to the heart can cause pain that travels from the chest up into the jaw.
In some cases, the pain may feel similar to a toothache.
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Back pain
Pain originating from the heart can also radiate to the back. Because people experience pain differently, its location can vary from person to person.
Pain in the left arm
Sudden pain in the left arm is a well-known sign of a heart attack.
However, the pain can occur in either arm because the brain may have difficulty determining where the signal is actually coming from.
Nausea
When the heart muscle does not receive enough blood, it can cause severe nausea.
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The symptom may be accompanied by dizziness, lightheadedness and cold or clammy skin.
Chest pressure
Chest discomfort is the most common symptom in both women and men.
It may feel like pressure, squeezing or tightness in the chest and requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms can be less obvious
Women are slightly more likely than men to experience more subtle symptoms.
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Age, other health problems and differences in the development of coronary artery disease may play a role.
Chest discomfort is not always described as pain
Women often describe the sensation in their chest as pressure, tightness or squeezing rather than pain.
This can make the symptom easier to dismiss.
A heart attack is caused by blocked blood flow
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced or cut off.
It is often caused by atherosclerosis, in which fat, cholesterol and other substances build up as deposits in the arteries.
The heart muscle can suffer permanent damage
If a deposit in an artery ruptures, a blood clot can form and block blood flow.
The heart muscle then begins to die, and the damaged tissue cannot repair itself.
Rapid treatment is crucial
If a heart attack is suspected, emergency medical assistance should be called immediately.
Blocked blood flow can quickly cause permanent damage, and some heart attacks require emergency treatment to open the affected artery.
This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.