Do You Know the Different Heart Attack Symptoms in Men and Women?

You might think you know what a heart attack looks like—you clutch your chest in pain and fall to the ground. But heart attacks don’t always stick to this script—especially in women.

Older couple outdoors, smiling

Here’s a look at some of the different heart attack symptoms in men and women.

In women

Women are more likely to have atypical and subtle symptoms during a heart attack, including:

Fatigue. You may feel tired for days without a clear reason.
Dull Pain. While chest pain is the most common sign, you may feel pain or discomfort in your neck, back, jaw, or stomach.
Nausea. You may vomit or feel sick to your stomach.
Shortness of breath. You may have a hard time breathing, even when sitting down.

In men

Men are more likely to experience the typical symptoms we associate with heart attacks, including:

Severe chest pain. You may feel like someone is squeezing or heart or like you have a large weight on your chest.
Shooting pain. You may feel a pain shooting down your left arm.
Cold sweat. You may break out in a cold sweat.

Whether you’re a man or women, if you suspect you might be having a heart attack, call 911. Every second counts.

Online Medical Reviewer: McDonough, Brian, MD

Date Last Reviewed: 11/2/2017