The Overlooked Heart Attack Symptom Many Women Ignore
A Reddit user described how a female college staff member working at a hospital suffered cardiac arrest during her shift. The post, which later went viral, drew attention to the warning signs that appeared before the medical emergency, particularly in women, and to how often those symptoms are ignored or misunderstood.
“Last week one of our admin staff presented to the ED after experiencing jaw/neck pain that proceeded to chest pain,” the user wrote.
“She ended up arresting in front of the triage desk but was successfully brought back by CPR,” they continued. “And is now recovering from surgery to place stents.”
One of the most widely recognized signs of a heart attack is chest pain, often accompanied by pain shooting down the left arm and shortness of breath.
Other warning signs can include pain in the back or abdomen, dizziness, sweating, nausea, and an intense feeling of panic.
The Reddit user, who identified themselves as a medical student, explained that even with substantial medical knowledge, they did not realize that “jaw/neck pain is a common warning sign” of a heart attack.
According to Duke Health, this symptom is not widely recognized because it occurs more often in women.
In fact, women experiencing a heart attack are more likely to feel pain in less expected areas such as the neck, jaw, and shoulder blades.
Women are also more likely to notice unusual fatigue before cardiac arrest, along with symptoms like indigestion and heartburn. The timing of these warning signs may also differ between women and men.
Dr. Radha Kachhy, a cardiologist with Duke Health, previously explained: “If it happens during times of exertion, it should be taken seriously. One of my patients said her shoulder hurt every time she walked.
“She thought it was her purse, but her shoulder throbbed even when she wasn’t holding her purse.”
Dr. Kachhy also noted that women are more likely to dismiss symptoms linked to various health conditions, including heart attack symptoms.
“I have patients who experienced symptoms of a heart attack and said, ‘Well, I decided to do the laundry first. When it didn’t get better, I went to the doctor,’” the cardiologist said.
“Time is muscle. The longer you wait, the more heart muscle damage can be done.”
When speaking about prevention, she stressed how important it is for women to keep track of blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and BMI.
“If you know you have some risks for heart disease, if you smoke, or if you are overweight, making lifestyle changes – like improving your diet and exercising more – can lower that risk,” she explained.
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