On average, women have their first heart attack at the age of 72. It is a serious disease, claiming the life of one woman every minute. Despite this fact, heart attack is under-recognized as the leading cause of death in women .

In a study made by researchers at the University of Amsterdam, they claim women received delays in treatment when suffering a heart attack. People were slower to recognize that women who collapse are experiencing cardiac arrest. This delays emergency responders in providing proper treatment. Dr. Hanno Tan, the lead cardiologist in the research, said that the worst outcome in women is largely due to the missed chances of having a shockable initial rhythm.

Shockable initial rhythm is a very fast and chaotic heart rhythm when someone is suffering a heart attack. This rhythm prevents effective pump function which keeps blood from circulating around the body to the heart, leading to a heart attack. Unless the heart is shocked back to a normal rhythm, death is imminent. 

Dr. Tan and his team analyzed data from all resuscitation attempts from 2006 to 2012 in one province in the Netherlands. 28% of the 5717 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests were women.

The study also found men received resuscitation attempts from bystanders more than women do. Survival from the time of heart attack to hospital admission was also three percent lower in women. 

They also found many differences in the treatment women received in the hospital. Women were less likely to be diagnosed and undergo proper treatment. 

The researchers are now urging for more public awareness campaigns on heart attacks in women. They are also calling for a reorganization of health care systems to provide faster and better resuscitation to women.

According to research funded by the British Heart Foundation, women are 50 percent more likely to get a wrong diagnosis than men. 

Heart attacks are often seen as a man's disease. Hence, women are less likely to get the right treatment in a timely manner, including a treatment to prevent a second heart attack.

The first steps to closing this gender gap include changing the public perception of women and heart attacks," Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, a consultant cardiologist said. "We also need to raise national awareness of gender-based inequalities in heart attack care and identify and guard against unconscious biases that could contribute to them."

Heart Attack Symptoms in Women

Women experience varying symptoms more than a month before they have a heart attack. 

  • 70.7 percent of women experience fatigue, which may even feel like the onset of flu. 

  • 47.8 percent experience difficulty sleeping

  • 42.1 percent have shortness of breath

  • 29.7 percent experience chest discomfort, while many do not

  • Women also experience indigestion and anxiety

Symptoms experienced by women during a heart attack are as follows:

  • 57.9 percent have shortness of breath

  • 54.8 percent experience weakness, while 42.9 percent experience fatigue and dizziness

  • Back pain is a common symptom of a heart attack in women

  • Upper abdominal pressure (indigestion), nausea, and vomiting are also common

  • Cold, clammy sweat is also a symptom.

Silent Heart Attacks

Some women experience a silent heart attack, which is an occurrence cardiac arrest that has no major or minimal symptoms. It is like any other heart attack where blood flow is constricted.

Silent heart attacks happen when a build-up of plaque prevents blood from flowing in the coronary arteries. Studies suggest that women are more likely to experience this more than men. 

Silent heart attacks and recognized heart attacks have the same risk factors including a family history of heart disease, obesity, smoking, and age. Silent heart attacks leave scarring and damage to the heart, increasing the risk of other heart problems. 

Calling 911

The first few minutes of a heart attack are crucial. First aid should be administered within 30 minutes to prevent damage or death. When the first symptom hits, it is important to call emergency services immediately.

It is also advised to know the risk factors. Observing blood pressure and cholesterol can also help decrease risk of a heart attack. And if something does not feel right, it is best to visit a professional.