Recognize the Symptoms

Women don't always feel the warning signs of heart disease the same way men do. For women, chest pain, or a feeling of pressure may come and go and it may occur in the upper abdomen rather than in the center or the chest.

A woman may also have trouble breathing or feel weak or tired when doing something that used to be easy. Or she may have heartburn or nausea that doesn't seem related to anything she has eaten.

Warning signs of a heart attack may include the following:

• Chest discomfort
• Indigestion or gas-like pain or pressure
• Pain spreading to shoulders, neck or arm
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained weakness, fatigue
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Discomfort/pain between shoulder blades
• Sense of impending doom

Any of these symptoms can occur in men or women.

If these symptoms last more than 15 minutes, seek help.

If you are experiencing symptoms that could signal a heart attack

• Call 9-1-1 and get to the emergency department quickly to minimize possible damage to your heart.
• Consider taking an aspirin at the first sign of heart attack symptoms.

Or, if you've had a heart attack

• Ask your doctor about the role of aspirin, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors in preventing second heart attacks.
• Ask your doctor to refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation program.
• Ask your doctor about nicotine-withdrawal medications, and find a smoking cessation support group.
  

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