Heart attack signs don't differ in men, women

Heart attack symptoms in men and women are more alike than some studies have indicated, according to new research unveiled at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress.

No difference was found between men and women in reporting chest pain, the most common symptom of heart attack, and other typical symptoms, such as sweating, shortness of breath and pain in the left arm, said study co-author Martha Mackay, a cardiac nurse and clinical research fellow and doctoral student at the University of British Columbia's School of Nursing.

Many studies have shown that there were differences in symptoms, especially in women reporting chest pain less often, said Mackay, who works at St. Paul's Hospital Heart Centre in Vancouver.

But one difference was detected, she noted, with women reporting jaw, neck and throat pain significantly more often than men.

For the study, Mackay said her team looked at 305 patients – almost 40 per cent women – undergoing angioplasty, a procedure in which a balloon is inflated in an artery to push away blockages.

"During that balloon inflation, for those few moments, you're actually blocking blood downstream, because it blocks the artery while the balloon is inflated, and that process actually mimics a heart attack," explained Mackay.

"But the difference is it's a very controlled situation ... in a hospital, with a bunch of health professionals around ... "

Questions about symptoms being experienced were asked during the balloon inflation, she said, "and we only looked at people that we could show that their heart muscle was actually lacking oxygen during those few moments."

Mackay said the study began in 2004 and arose because previous research indicating women tend to delay seeking treatment when having a heart attack.

One theory has it that women don't seek treatment because they don't know they're having a heart attack, she said.

Dr. Beth Abramson of the Heart and Stroke Foundation said while women may describe their pain differently than men, the most common symptom is still chest pain.