Heart Attack Symptoms Male

Why Are Men And Women Different

The signs of a heart attack for men

Womens experience of heart attacks and heart disease differ from men because:

Womens symptoms of heart disease can arise at a much later stage in the illness than men
Womens symptoms can be milder, vague or unusual
Some tests used to diagnose heart disease are less accurate in women than in men
In the event of a heart attack, women are also less likely than men to seek help quickly
There is also less awareness of the risk and different warning signs of heart attack and heart disease in females.

Because heart disease in women often goes undetected which can delay treatment, the damage caused can be more advanced and outcomes can be poorer than for men.

Men And Heart Disease

The term heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions, including coronary artery disease and heart attack.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States.1

This map shows death rates from heart disease in men in the United States. The darker red indicates a higher death rate.

The map shows that concentrations of counties with the highest heart disease death rates meaning the top quintile are located primarily in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Guam. Pockets of high-rate counties also were found in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas, Nevada, Montana, and Alaska.

Source: Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke

Signs Of Holiday Heart Syndrome

People with existing heart conditions are most at risk for holiday heart syndrome. So are individuals with risk factors for heart disease or AFibincluding high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity, sleep-disordered breathing, diabetes, and smoking, Dr. Price says.

Seek medical attention immediately if you have any of these symptoms of holiday heart syndrome:

Pounding, racing, or fluttering in your chest
Shortness of breath
Chest pain, pressure, or discomfort

People tend to ignore their symptoms over the holidays and wait until the new year to get medical attention, but its critical to seek out care if you have a persistent racing heartbeat and chest pain, or if youre struggling to breathe, Dr. Price says.

Recommended Reading: Can Your Heart Rate Be Too Low

Q What Is Cardiac Arrest

During cardiac arrest, heart stops beating. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs suddenly and often without warning. It is triggered by an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat . With its pumping action disrupted, the heart cannot pump blood to the brain, lungs and other organs. Seconds later, a person loses consciousness and has no pulse. Death occurs within minutes if the victim does not receive treatment.

Too Much Sweating For No Reason

What do you know about the warning signs of a heart attack in men ...

Sweating is common during exercise, in hot environments, and during stressful situations. But if you start sweating excessively without obvious cause, it might be a sign of a heart attack. This is especially true if additional symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest discomfort are present along with the sweating. Although a number of factors might make you sweat a lot, its usually one of the earliest indications of a heart attack.

Don’t Miss: Double Bypass Heart Surgery

How To Get Checked Out

Men may not be aware they had an SMI until weeks or even months later when they see their doctor for a regular visit, or because of persistent symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, or heartburn.

SMI is usually detected from an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram, which can highlight heart muscle damage. Another method is a blood test for the molecular footprints of troponin T, a protein released by injured heart cells. That test is often used in emergency departments for patients with heart attack symptoms.

Once an SMI is diagnosed, your doctor can identify your main risk factors and help design a treatment strategy, including changing your diet, exercising regularly, and taking a statin as well as other medication to help prevent a second heart attack .

“If you do notice any symptoms of a SMI, do not brush them aside, even if you do not think they are serious,” says Dr. Plutzky. “Playing it safe is always a better move than risking the potential harmful downside.”

Are You Finding It Hard To Get Medical Help

We know that many of you are experiencing delays to treatment at this time, or have questions and concerns about getting medical help. We’ve created this set of information to help you with these issues.

If you are having emergency heart attack symptoms, do not wait for an appointment and call 999 immediately.

Making the most of phone and video appointments

Can I Prevent Having A Heart Attack

In general, there are many things that you can do that may prevent a heart attack. However, some factors beyond your control especially your family history can still lead to a heart attack despite your best efforts. Still, reducing your risk can postpone when you have a heart attack and reduce the severity if you have one.

Heart Attack Symptoms In Men #: Chest Pain

Heart Attack Symptoms

Of all the possible symptoms of heart attack in men, chest discomfort is by far the most common.

Among all of the possible signs of a heart attack in men, chest discomfort is by far the most stereotypical. It is among the most common heart attack symptoms. But the nature of chest pain can vary from one man to another.

For some individuals, the sensation is of the heart being squeezed. Its a tightness, as though your heart was in a vice, or like it had someone pulling a rope around it.

Other heart attack survivors describe their symptoms as pressure on the chest. It may feel like someone or something was sitting right on the middle of your chest. In other cases, its an ache or a sharp pain. Some men even say the feeling was similar to the irritation experienced with heartburn after a spicy meal.

The pain may be felt directly behind the sternum or just to the left of it. The discomfort may stretch from one underarm to the other. It can be a vague feeling, leaving some heart attack patients unable to describe exactly where the pain originates.

Don’t Miss: Early Symptoms Of Congestive Heart Failure

Take Care Of Yourself

Heart disease is preventable. Here are Goldbergs top tips:

Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to learn your personal risk for heart disease.
Quit smoking. Did you know that just one year after you quit, youll cut your risk of coronary heart disease by 50 percent?
Start an exercise program. Just walking 30 minutes a day can lower your risk for heart attack and stroke.
Modify your familys diet if needed. Check out these healthy cooking tips. Youll learn smart substitutions, healthy snacking ideas and better prep methods. For example, with poultry, use the leaner light meat instead of the fattier dark meat , and be sure to remove the skin.

Q What Are The 4 Silent Signs Of A Heart Attack

A silent heart attack is just like any other attack and equally damaging. The heart is the pumping mechanism of the human body which needs oxygen-rich blood to function. When blood is thickened by plague , it hinders the blood flow to arteries. Be prepared by knowing these 4 silent signs of a heart attack.

Most heart attacks actually involve only mild pain or discomfort in the centre of your chest. You may also feel pressure, squeezing, or fullness.
A heart attack doesnt just affect your heart. It is not about pain in chest area alone. Look out for pain or discomfort in your arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
If you face difficulty breathing and feel dizziness easily by just doing simple physical activity like climbing stairs, you need to look out for your heart.
Waking up in a cold sweat, feeling nauseated, and vomiting are signs of a silent heart attack.

You May Like: Heart Rate Fat Burning Zone

How Soon After Treatment Will I Feel Better

In general, your heart attack symptoms should decrease as you receive treatment. Youll likely have some lingering weakness and fatigue during your hospital stay and for several days after. Your healthcare provider will give you guidance on rest, medications to take, etc.

Recovery from the treatments also varies, depending on the method of treatment. The average hospital stay for a heart attack is between four and five days. In general, expect to stay in the hospital for the following length of time:

Medication only: People treated with medication only have an average hospital stay of approximately six days.
PCI: Recovering from PCI is easier than surgery because its a less invasive method for treating a heart attack. The average length of stay for PCI is about four days.
CABG: Recovery from heart bypass surgery takes longer because its a major surgery. The average length of stay for CABG is about seven days.

What Are The Early Signs Of A Heart Attack

There are heart attack symptoms in women that are different from heart attack symptoms in men. But the common signs and symptoms they usually share are as follows:

Chest pain or discomfort: The discomfort usually lasts for more than a few minutes or it may go away and come back. The discomfort may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain at the center of the chest.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: This may include pain or discomfort in the back, jaw, stomach or in one or both arms.
Shortness of breath: This may occur with, before or without chest pain or discomfort.
Breaking out in a cold sweat
Nausea or light-headedness

Meanwhile, heart attack symptoms in women sometimes go unnoticed. These include the following:

Pressure, fullness, squeezing pain in the center of the chest, spreading to the neck, shoulder or jaw
Unusual fatigue

Treating or managing conditions that can be a risk factors of heart attack such as diabetes

Sign Of Potential Heart Attack: Youre Physically Exhausted

If your day-to-day routines or workouts suddenly seem unusually hardor youre too worn out to do your normal tasks altogether, its time to visit the doctor, says Robert Segal, M.D., FAAC, founder of Manhattan Cardiology.

Feeling extra tired can signal weakness of the left ventricle of your heart, the main muscle responsible for pumping blood from the heart to the rest of the body, says Segal. If it stops working, the heart isnt able to pump properly, which can result in a heart attack.

And if the left ventricle isnt pumping as strongly as should be, your heart might not be able to circulate enough blood throughout your body, or to fill up properly with fresh blood in between heartbeats. To compensate, the body diverts blood away from muscles and sends it to more vital organs like the heart and brain, according to the American Heart Association. This will leave you exhaustedeven after a full nights sleep, since your tissues arent getting enough fresh, oxygenated blood.

Is A Cardiac Arrest The Same Thing As A Heart Attack

A cardiac arrest and a heart attack are both medical emergencies. However, they are not the same thing, and sometimes a heart attack can progress into a cardiac arrest.

During a cardiac arrest, the electrical system that controls your heart rate and rhythm stops working, and the heart stops beating.

When someone has a cardiac arrest, they experience different symptoms and receive different treatments to someone who has a heart attack.

Someone having a cardiac arrest will collapse and have no pulse. They may not breathe properly, or maybe not at all, and they will lose consciousness.

If someone has a cardiac arrest, they need help immediately. Call 000 for an ambulance. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, begin chest compressions , or use a device called a defibrillator, if available. Once the person gets to hospital, a medical team will treat them.

What Are Symptoms On A Heart Attack

Heart pains are caused by a narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart .If a blood clot forms over a patch of atheroma in a coronary artery it can cause a heart attack .Women feel less localized symptoms that men. That means that they cant say exactly where it hurts.According to Mayo Clinic:People may experience:

Pain areas: in the area between shoulder blades, arm, chest, jaw, left arm, or upper abdomen

Pain types: can be burning in the chest, crushing, like a clenched fist in the chest, or mild pain

Pain circumstances: can occur during rest

Whole body: dizziness, fatigue, lightheadedness, clammy skin, cold sweat, or sweating

Chest: discomfort, fullness, or tightness

Gastrointestinal: indigestion, nausea, or vomiting

Neck: discomfort or tightness

Arm: discomfort or tightness

Also common: anxiety, feeling of impending doom, sensation of an abnormal heartbeat, shortness of breath, or shoulder discomfort

Also Check: Stress Test For The Heart

Lower The Risk Factors You Can Control

CardioSmart | Male Heart Attack Symptoms

The first step to lowering cardiovascular risk is to raise your awareness of the risk factors and symptoms that are particular to women. The next step is to take actions and practice daily behaviors that lower the risk factors you can control.

Stick to a healthy, low-saturated-fat diet that is high in fiber and low in fatty, processed foods.
Several times a week, follow a supervised exercise regimen that is both challenging and motivating:
Benefits of regular exercise include lower blood pressure, lower risk of diabetes, healthier body weight, and stress reduction.
Exercise at least 3 times per week for at least 30 minutes. Even better, build up to 4-6 times per week for 45 minutes or more.

Consult with your physician about cardiovascular screening based on your family history and risk factors.

Keep track of your cholesterol.

Don’t Miss: Congestive Heart Failure And Low Oxygen Levels

Heart Attack In Women Over 50

After menopause, which generally occurs around age 50, your risk of heart attack increases. During this period of life, your levels of the hormone estrogen drop. Estrogen is believed to help protect the health of your heart, which could explain why the average age of first heart attack is roughly 5 years older in women than in men.

There are additional symptoms of a heart attack that women over the age of 50 may experience. These symptoms include:

severe chest pain

A silent heart attack is like any other heart attack, except it occurs without the usual symptoms. In other words, you may not even realize youve experienced a heart attack.

The American Heart Association estimates that as many as 170,000 Americans experience heart attacks each year without even knowing it. Though less symptomatic than a full heart attack, these events cause heart damage and increase the risk of future attacks.

Silent heart attacks are more common among people with diabetes and in those whove had previous heart attacks.

Symptoms that may indicate a silent heart attack include:

mild discomfort in your chest, arms, or jaw that goes away after resting
shortness of breath and tiring easily
sleep disturbances and increased fatigue
abdominal pain or heartburn
skin clamminess

How Is Heart Disease Treated

The treatment for heart disease depends on which kind of condition you have. The three main options are often lifestyle changes, medicine or procedures. With heart disease, making changes to your lifestyle may be your best treatment. You have the power to form healthy habits that can help keep that heart of yours in good shape.9

You May Like: Signs And Symptoms Of Adhd

Also Check: Copd And Congestive Heart Failure

I Thought I Had The Flu

Even though heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, women often chalk up the symptoms to less life-threatening conditions like acid reflux, the flu or normal aging.

They do this because they are scared and because they put their families first, Goldberg said. There are still many women who are shocked that they could be having a heart attack.

A heart attack strikes someone about every 43 seconds. It occurs when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely. This happens because the arteries that supply the heart with blood can slowly narrow from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances .

Watch an animation of a heart attack.

Many women think the signs of a heart attack are unmistakable the image of the elephant comes to mind but in fact they can be subtler and sometimes confusing.

You could feel so short of breath, as though you ran a marathon, but you haven’t made a move, Goldberg said.

Some women experiencing a heart attack describe upper back pressure that feels like squeezing or a rope being tied around them, Goldberg said. Dizziness, lightheadedness or actually fainting are other symptoms to look for.

Many women I see take an aspirin if they think they are having a heart attack and never call 911, Goldberg said. But if they think about taking an aspirin for their heart attack, they should also call 911.

Heart Attack Symptoms Are They Different For Men And Women

Three minute read

Every year, more than one million people in the U.S. suffer from a heart attack. This means every 40 seconds someone in the US experiences congestive heart failure. Although heart disease death rates have fallen steadily for men, the rates for women have decreased only slightly.

Why is there such a discrepancy between men and women? A lot of it has to do with the variances in symptoms of heart attacks for each gender.

Difference in heart attack symptoms for men and women

Chest tightening, sweating and pain in the shoulder and arm are the most well-known symptoms of a heart attack. For years, many believed these were the only symptoms to look out for, but as we learn more about cardiovascular disease, we find that there are significant differences in how men and women experience a heart attack.

Warning signs in men

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men. In fact, 1 in every 4 males die from a heart attack. Men also experience heart attacks earlier in life compared to women. Men exhibit the following symptoms during a heart attack:

Chest pain/tightening that feels like an elephant sitting on your chest. Also, a squeezing sensation that comes and goes or remains constant
Upper body pain in the arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw or stomach
Rapid heartbeats

Don't Miss