Heart Attack Symptoms Differ with Gender and Ethnicity

According to the National Institutes of Health, from 1988 to 1992, 68 percent of heart attacks or cases of sudden cardiac arrest were fatal. From 2003 to 2007, the death rate declined significantly – to 57 percent. While the decline is encouraging, , two things have not changed: women continue to have a higher death rate than men; and African Americans were, and still are, more likely to die from a heart attack or cardiac arrest than any other ethnic group.

Although the exact causes and reasons behind these statistics are still unknown, understanding the differences in heart attack warning signs between men and women, as well as the risk factors specific to the African American population, can increase any patient’s likelihood of survival.

Heart attack symptoms in men vs. women
Most doctors consider chest pain a critical precursor to a possible heart attack in women and men, but fewer than 30 percent of women report having any chest pain or discomfort prior to cardiac arrest. Women, more so than men, commonly report experiencing unusual fatigue, sleep disturbance and shortness of breath prior to a heart attack.

Through different studies and advancements in medical care, it’s become clear that heart attacks in women are not nearly as predictable as those among men. Regardless of these differences, however, knowledge of symptoms and treatment, especially advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and early intervention techniques, remain key to ensuring the best-possible post-heart attack outcomes.

Major symptoms women experience prior to a heart attack include:

Unusual fatigue
Sleep disturbance
Shortness of breath
Indigestion
Anxiety

Major symptoms displayed during a heart attack include:

Shortness of breath
Weakness
Unusual fatigue
Cold sweat
Dizziness

Heart attacks among African Americans

According to the American Heart Association, African Americans are at a higher risk for heart disease than other ethnicities. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, among non-Hispanic blacks age 20 and older, 44.6 percent of men and 46.9 percent of women have some form of cardiovascular disease.

Regardless of the gender or ethnicity of someone having a heart attack, however, your training in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) will equip you with the knowledge to recognize their risk factors, the warning signs of cardiac arrest, and the tools to respond quickly and confidently to their medical crisis.

Health Ed Solutions, a resource for medical professionals and others who want to be prepared for a medical emergency, provides online ACLS certification and recertification courses designed for healthcare professionals seeking initial certification or recertification.

The information included in this article is based on the 2020 guidelines for CPR, first aid and advanced cardiovascular care. Read more about how the 2020 guidelines impact ACLS training online.