Heart attacks can present differently, especially between men and women. It’s important to know the differences to seek immediate care.

Christina O’Guinn is a nurse practitioner at the Salem Health Cardiology Clinic. O’Guinn said her male patients usually describe mid-sternum chest pain, a squeezing tightness, a struggle to breathe and pain that radiates down the left arm and sometimes up to the jaw.

Symptoms in women and people with diabetes

“For women and diabetics, they often get nausea, vomiting and chest pain that might not be as sharp,” she said. “It might be described like acid reflux. It may radiate to the back.”

This can be accompanied by a fatigued feeling or fainting.

O’Guinn said as providers, especially in cardiology, it’s important to recognize the range of symptoms.

“Women’s symptoms could be generalized to many different diagnoses and overlooked,” she said. “It can be hard for primary care providers to spot unless patients are getting electrocardiograms or lab work that could indicate an active heart attack.”

Seek immediate consultation

As for patients, the nurse practitioner encourages people to pay attention to symptoms, especially radiating pain.

“Any type of chest pressure, pain, squeezing, heaviness of the chest? That’s not normal,” said O’Guinn. “If there was nothing that led up to that, you need to get checked out. If you can’t get checked by your primary care provider, go to the ER.”

O’Guinn also said if things like Tylenol aren’t relieving pain, something is going on.

“Chest pain is not always specific to that left side,” she said. It can radiate to the back. There could also be abdominal pain.

O’Guinn said some people attribute things like shortness of breath to getting old, but she recommends checking on symptoms just to be sure.

“Sometimes there are signs and symptoms we can address before an active heart attack,” she said. “Preventative care can help preserve the heart and prevent worsening coronary artery disease.”

Your path to cardiac care

From heart attacks and high blood pressure to heart disease and failure — we’re here to address your cardiology concerns at Salem Health. Learn more about our team and the steps we can take to get your health back on track.