• Women tend to have “atypical” symptoms that are actually signs of a heart attack. As a result, it may be harder for women to recognize they are having a heart attack and to get treatment immediately. Physicians may also have a harder time diagnosing a heart attack in women because of the atypical symptoms women are more likely to have.

  • Women’s heart attacks may be more damaging or associated with more severe medical complications, possibly because of the underreporting and late diagnosis that may result from presenting with atypical symptoms. Consequently, women are more likely than men to become disabled from a heart attack and less likely to be referred for cardiac rehabilitation.

  • Compared with male heart attack patients, women are usually about 10 years older at the time of their first attack. At that age, they are more likely to have medical complications or conditions that could interfere with a full recovery. At the more advanced age, women are more likely to have conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure (hypertension). They are also more likely to have developed complications from long-term habits such as smoking or excessive alcohol use. It is important to note that, while women are more likely to suffer a heart attack after menopause, younger women can get heart attacks that are just as life-threatening.

  • Women have a smaller heart and coronary arteries than men, which makes some diagnostic and therapeutic procedures more difficult. Non-invasive imaging of the heart may be difficult due to the interference of breast tissues.