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Heart attack symptoms: males vs females
4-minute read
Call triple zero (000) immediately for an ambulance if you or someone else may be having a heart attack.
Key facts
- A heart attack is when the blood supply to your heart muscle is blocked, and your heart doesn’t get enough oxygen.
- The most common heart attack symptom is chest pain — in both males and females.
- Females are more likely than males to have some of the other symptoms of heart attack.
What is heart disease?
A heart attack is when the blood supply to your heart muscle is blocked, and your heart doesn’t get enough oxygen.
Heart attacks are caused by coronary heart disease (CHD). Angina is also caused by CHD.
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia, affecting 1 in 9 adults aged 75 years and older. Twice as many males as females live with CHD.
What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
The most common heart attack symptom in both males and females is chest pain.
Chest pain from a heart attack is often described as:
- heavy
- crushing
- pressure
Other symptoms of a heart attack are:
- pain, tightness or discomfort in your arms, shoulder, neck, back and jaw
- a burning sensation in your chest (like heartburn or indigestion)
- shortness of breath
- nausea or vomiting
- dizziness
- tiredness, or fatigue
Females are more likely than males to:
- not have chest pain
- have other symptoms of heart attack
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
What are the risk factors for coronary heart disease?
Well-known risk factors for heart disease are:
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- diabetes
- being overweight or obese
- having an unhealthy diet
- not getting enough physical activity
- smoking
Females can also have other risk factors, such as:
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- premature menopause (menopause before the age of 40 years)
- some cancer treatments, such as breast cancer treatments
- depression, which can increase the risk of coronary heart disease
Also, some pregnancy complications can increase your risk of heart disease later on. These include:
- pre-eclampsia
- high blood pressure during pregnancy
- gestational diabetes
- having a baby born prematurely
- having a baby with a low birthweight
Having an autoimmune condition can also increase your risk. These conditions, and some of the treatments for them, are more common in females than males.
Males with erectile dysfunction are at increased risk of heart disease.
What can be done to help prevent heart disease?
Anyone can reduce their risk of heart attack by:
- smoking
- exercise regularly
- sticking to a healthy diet, including cutting down on alcohol and salt
- maintaining a healthy weight
- making sure high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol are well controlled
ARE YOU AT RISK? — Are you at risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease? Use the Risk Checker to find out.
Resources and support
Visit the Heart Foundation for information on the heart, heart disease and heart attack symptoms.
The Heart Foundation also has heart health information in languages other than English.
Information designed in collaboration with Aboriginal people, to provide culturally appropriate heart health resources is available from St Vincent’s Hospital Heart Health: Aboriginal Heart Health.
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.