Excruciating chest pain and shortness of breath may be the first symptoms you associate with a heart attack. But one doctor warns the reality of these life-threatening moments can be far different - especially among women. Dr Lawrence Cunningham, a retired GP at UK Care Guide , told The Express that women are more likely to experience subtler signs of a heart attack, often leading them to be overlooked or outright ignored.
In some cases, patients have even misinterpreted an attack as stress or indigestion, he claimed. "In my experience, women often do tend to overlook or misinterpret heart attack symptoms," Dr Cunningham said in an exclusive interview. "There are several reasons for this in my opinion.
Traditionally, the archetype of a heart attack—a sudden, crushing chest pain—has been based on men's experiences. "However, women often experience less typical symptoms like nausea, fatigue, or shortness of breath. These can be easily mistaken for other ailments.
In 2019, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) shone a light on the stark disparities in heart attack treatment between men and women in the UK. Several dangerous causes were linked to the gender gap, including a lack of awareness and misdiagnosis in hospitals. Worryingly, women were 50% more likely to receive a wrong initial diagnosis while having a heart attack.
The report added that 'both men and women who are initially misdiagnosed have a 70% higher risk of dying'. Findings also showed that risk factors for heart .