Women's heart attack symptoms often more subtle than men's

KUALA LUMPUR - A leading cardiologist has warned that women are more prone to misdiagnose heart attack symptoms compared to men, often mistaking them for less serious conditions.

Symptoms in women tend to be more subtle, making them harder to recognise and potentially more dangerous. While men may experience the classic chest pain, women are more likely to face fatigue, nausea, or shortness of breath, which can lead to the warning signs being overlooked.

This variation in symptoms highlights the need for greater awareness and education on heart health, ensuring women take timely, potentially life-saving action.

National Heart Institute (IJN) Consultant Cardiologist Datuk Dr Ahmad Khairuddin Mohamed Yusof emphasised that women’s heart attack symptoms are generally more subtle compared to men.

“Women often have a higher pain tolerance, as seen in (chef and content creator) Ili Sulaiman's story, where she compared her heart attack pain to just a three on a scale, while describing labour pain as a 10. For men, that level of pain would already feel severe.

“Ili’s experience highlights how women may overlook heart attack symptoms, attributing them to fatigue or other less serious issues, partly because they are used to enduring pain from childbirth and menstrual cramps.

“Instead of sharp pain, women might experience headaches, palpitations, shortness of breath or fatigue, with the latter being the most common sign,” he said.

Dr Khairuddin stressed that it is crucial for men, especially husbands, to pay attention when their wives express feeling unwell, even if the symptoms seem minor.

“Ili’s husband, for example, insisted she seek medical attention despite her thinking it was just exhaustion.

“This highlights the importance of men being attentive and not dismissing these concerns as insignificant, as neglecting them could result in delayed medical attention for women, potentially worsening their health,” he said.

Dr Khairuddin also pointed out that regular exercise serves as an effective preventive measure against heart-related issues, including heart attacks.

“Exercise offers numerous benefits, such as reducing the risk of diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and improving overall lipid metabolism.

“In Malaysia, unfortunately, exercise tends to vary across racial lines, with the Chinese community often showing more commitment to health activities, even in old age, compared to Malays and Indians. In contrast, in many developed nations, exercise is embraced as a way of life.

“The minimum recommendation is 150 minutes of exercise per week, but more is always better,” he said.