The 4 subtle heart attack warning signs every woman needs to know
MILLIONS of women have no idea they could have a heart attack - thinking it's a condition that affects men.
Despite that there are more than 800,000 women in the UK living with coronary heart disease, which is the main cause of heart attacks.
And around 35,000 women are admitted to hospital following a heart attack each year in the UK - an average of 98 per day, or four per hour.
This is why it's key women know the signs they need to look out for - which can be more subtle than in men.
US doctor Dr. Roquell Wyche told NBC Washington: "Women typically have small vessel disease so their symptoms tend to be much more subtle.
"When you think about all your friends, your family, your daughters, your sisters, your aunts, your nieces, almost 50 percent of them have some form of cardiovascular disease, which is pretty significant."
With this in mind, here we take you through the key warning signs of a heart attack women need to look out for...
1. Fatigue
We can also experience feeling tired from time to time, but experts say that extreme fatigue can be a sign that something is wrong.
It's much more likely to affect women - around 70 per cent - who also may also put their symptoms down to flu, according to Healthline.
2. Excessive sweating
Sweating more than usual - especially if you've not been active - could be an early warning sign.
Pumping blood around clogged arteries takes more effort from your heart, so your body sweats more to try to keep the body temperature down.
Women often mistake this symptom as a hot flush or a night sweat more typical of menopause.
But if you wake up and the sheets are damp or experience cold sweats and clammy skin then it's worth consulting your doctor.
3. Shortness of breath
The heart pumps blood so it can circulate to your tissues and get oxygen to your lungs.
If your heart can't pump blood effectively - as is the case with a heart attack - then it can cause breathlessness.
What is a heart attack?
- A heart attack happens when the heart muscle is starved of oxygen-rich blood, often as a result of a blockage.
- The lack of oxygen causes the muscle to be damaged.
- Most heart attacks are triggered by coronary heart disease, the British Heart Foundation notes.
- This is when the coronary arteries – the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood, become narrowed by a gradual build-up of fat inside the walls.
- If a piece of this fatty material breaks away, it can cause a blood clot or blockage to form. If it then blocks the coronary artery it can cut off the blood supply to the heart.
This symptom is diagnosed in 40 per cent of cases and is a strong feeling of being unable to draw a deep breath.
It can be an accompanying symptom to unusual fatigue in women, but can occur for both genders up to six months prior to a heart attack.
4. Chest pain
Chest pain, or discomfort, is one of the most common early sign of a heart attack.
People have described it as feeling like an elephant standing on their chest.
Others say it's more of a chest tightness or squeezing sensation.
It may seem bad for a few minutes and then go away, and come back hours or even a day later.
Chest pain tends to affect just 30 per cent of women - which is why it's vital to know the other signs.
If you are suffering this symptom, speak to your GP immediately or call 111 for advice.
More on heart disease
A heart attack is a medical emergency and can be life threatening.
If you think you or someone else is having a heart attack, call 999 for an ambulance immediately.
If you’re not sure, it’s still important to seek medical attention as soon as possible to be on the safe side.