Most people know not to ignore chest pain, the most common symptom of a heart attack.
But the warning signs can be much less obvious — especially in women, cardiologists warn.
Dismissing them can delay life-saving treatment, with women facing a much higher risk of dying after a heart attack than men. One of the possible reasons is that women often have atypical symptoms of a heart attack, researchers note.
When Reena Caprario of Apopka, Florida, noticed her left shoulder blade was hurting, she thought it was indigestion. The pain then spread to her left jaw and the left side of her head. She was later diagnosed with a heart attack.
“I was in denial. I kept saying there’s no way I’m having a heart attack,” Caprario told TODAY.com.
Cardiologist Tip of the Day: Don’t Ignore Jaw or Back Pain
Back pain and jaw discomfort can be atypical heart attack symptoms that tend to occur more in women than men, says Dr. Linus Wodi, Caprario's cardiologist at AdventHealth in Apopka, Florida.
“Unfortunately, when patients have those symptoms, they can attribute them to other things,” Wodi previously told TODAY.com.
“So it might take a while before patients show up to the emergency room, which is unfortunate because the earlier you seek medical attention, the earlier you get taken care of.”
Why It Matters
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A heart attack is a life-threatening emergency that happens when blood flow to the heart suddenly becomes blocked, starving the heart muscle of oxygen. It’s crucial to get help quickly so doctors can restore blood flow to prevent more damage.
But even a heart surgeon dismissed his own heart attack symptoms.
How to Get Started
Seek immediate medical help if you experience chest pain or discomfort.
Heart attack symptoms can also include pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
“Some women having a heart attack describe upper back pressure that feels like squeezing or a rope being tied around them,” the American Heart Association notes.
Other less obvious heart attack symptoms that women may experience include anxiety, upset stomach, unusual fatigue, or pain in the shoulder, back or arm, it notes.
When it comes to preventing a heart attack, the most important thing is to know your modifiable heart disease risk factors — like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, excess weight — and to control those risks, Wodi said.
TODAY’s Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.
