Hidden signs of a heart attack that are often ignored – medics

The article describes differences in heart attack symptoms between men and women, emphasizing that women often experience atypical symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, dizziness, and severe fatigue, leading to delayed medical help. Statistics from the Ukrainian Ministry of Health are cited.

Based on material from The Guardian, the article examines differences in myocardial infarction symptoms between men and women. In men, the classic picture includes severe chest pain radiating to the left arm, neck, or jaw, shortness of breath, and nausea. In women, symptoms are often atypical: pressing pain in the upper abdomen or lower chest, dizziness, and severe fatigue, while acute chest pain may be absent. This leads women to seek medical help late. An anatomical feature—shared nerve pathways of the heart and stomach—causes women to mistake symptoms for heartburn. Complications of a heart attack include cardiogenic shock, dangerous arrhythmias, and rupture of the heart muscle. Data from the Ukrainian Ministry of Health show over 45,000 cases annually, with a quarter of patients under 55.