2. Unexplained Fatigue
A study from the University of Arkansas notes that many women complain of unexplained fatigue and sleeplessness prior to a heart attack. Researchers found that extreme fatigue the week prior to a heart event was a pattern among female heart patients. “Patients often complain of a tiredness in the chest,” says Nieca Goldberg, MD, Medical Director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, when talking to WebMD.
Unexplained fatigue is an indicator of heart issue that strikes women, not so much men. In fact, doctors note that women often suffer different indicators compared to the classic patterns men are prone to before suffering a heart attack.
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3. Dizziness
Dizziness, fainting, and feelings of vertigo are also common signs of a heart issue. According to a study from the University of North Carolina, a racing heart, palpitations, or dizziness when going from seated to standing are telltale signs of a cardiovascular problem.
Most notably, scientists explain that feelings of dizziness and heart palpitations are the result of a faulty valve, a heart blockage, or a valve-related issue in the days prior to an impending cardiac event.
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4. Heavy Chest Pain
While sharp chest pain is often a classic heart attack symptom in men, this is not always the same for women. Instead, women often feel heaviness, similar to a weight, on their chests prior to a heart attack.
According to Ashley Simmons, MD, a cardiologist at the University of Kansas Hospital, women are more likely to feel unexplained chest pressure that feels like they pulled a muscle or like their chest cavity is weighted down by bricks. In this case, call 9-1-1 immediately.