Signs of heart attack in women: Symptoms to know

Published September 2026 | 5 min read
Expert contributor: Professor Jason Kovacic, Director and CEO, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
Words by Sabrina Rogers

Key takeaways

• The signs of heart attack in women can include chest pain, as well as jaw, neck or back pain, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness and unusual fatigue.
• Women are more likely to experience certain types of heart attack, including SCAD and MINOCA, and their symptoms are more likely to be overlooked or misdiagnosed.
• If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack, call 000 immediately.
• Eligible members^* can access an HCF Heart and Diabetes Health Check at no extra cost to help detect heart disease risk factors early.

When we think of a heart attack, most of us picture someone clutching their chest in agony. While chest pain is the most common symptom in both women and men, women may present more often with non-chest pain symptoms, including pain in the back, shoulders, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea.

Almost 20,000 Australian women have a heart attack each year and women are twice as likely as men to die after having an attack. So it’s crucial to understand the signs of heart attack in women, when to act and how HCF cover can support early detection.

What does a heart attack feel like for a woman?

Possible signs of heart attack in women include:

• pain, pressure, tightness or discomfort in the chest
• neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back, arm or abdominal pain
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• indigestion or heartburn
• nausea or vomiting
• light-headedness or dizziness
• fainting
• cold sweats or heavy sweating
• unusual or extreme fatigue
• heart palpitations.

“There's a lot of talk about how women have atypical heart attack symptoms, which is true, but the most common symptom in women is still chest pain or discomfort,” says Professor Jason Kovacic, Director and CEO of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. “And just because you have nausea or fatigue doesn’t mean you’re having a heart attack. Most people will experience a constellation of symptoms.”

But if you’re unsure about your symptoms or something just doesn’t feel right, Prof Kovacic recommends seeking medical help to be on the safe side.

“Heart attack symptoms are more often overlooked in women than in men, which can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment that can negatively affect women’s outcomes,” he explains.

“The medical system has work to do to make sure we’re not missing heart attacks in women or misdiagnosing them as reflux, anxiety, menopause or other conditions. But it’s also crucial to raise awareness in the community to help people recognise the signs and symptoms and seek timely medical attention.”

When ‘stress’ symptoms could be life-threatening

For nearly a year, Debra Clare had been experiencing chest pain and feeling increasingly unwell. After multiple visits to her GP and local hospital where her symptoms were attributed to stress and anxiety, Debra found information on non-profit organisation Her Heart’s website that pushed her to advocate for herself and secure a referral to a cardiac specialist.

Tests revealed one of her coronary arteries was completely blocked and she was told not to put any stress on her heart until her follow-up appointment a few days later. But the day before her appointment, Debra suffered a heart attack that required emergency surgery and two stents.

Looking back, Debra believes her experience highlights the importance of taking women's symptoms seriously. "My experience was horrific and it makes me so cranky and hurt,” she says.

Why heart attack symptoms look different in women

Part of the reason signs of heart attack in women can vary is that the underlying causes are often different.

“The most common cause of heart attack is a blockage in a coronary artery due to the build-up of fatty plaque,” says Prof Kovacic. “But there’s a group of other causes of heart attack that don’t involve fatty plaque.”

These include the following conditions:

• Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), a heart attack that occurs without an obvious blockage in an artery.
• Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a tearing of the artery that accounts for about 25% of heart attacks in women under 50.
• Coronary artery spasm, when the arteries that supply the heart with blood narrow (i.e. spasm), causing a temporary blockage.
• Microvascular disease, which can occur along with a heart attack when the very small blood vessels in the heart aren’t functioning and dilating as they should.

“There are other rarer causes, such as when a piece of blood clot goes down a coronary artery, and broken-heart syndrome or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which isn’t technically a heart attack but mimics one,” says Prof Kovacic.

SCAD: The heart attack most common in younger, healthy women

SCAD develops when the inner layer of an artery supplying blood to the heart tears. Blood can then become trapped between the layers of the artery wall, reducing or blocking blood flow to the heart and potentially causing a heart attack.

Nine out of 10 people who have a SCAD heart attack are women, with those in their 40s and 50s most at risk. It’s also the most common cause of heart attack associated with pregnancy.

Because SCAD often occurs in women who are young, healthy and don’t have a family history of heart disease or any traditional risk factors, it’s often overlooked or misdiagnosed.

Symptoms of SCAD are similar to those outlined above, but women are more likely to experience jaw, neck or back pain, nausea, light-headedness or feeling unusually tired.

If you experience any heart attack symptoms, no matter what your age or health status, seek medical attention without delay.

Risk factors specific to women

“While there are heart attack risk factors specific to women, we should never sideline the traditional risk factors because they’re critically important for women too,” says Prof Kovacic.

Traditional heart attack risk factors include:

• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• diabetes
• obesity
• poor diet
• physical inactivity
• smoking
• older age
• family history of heart disease
• being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.

Risk factors specific to women include:

• an early or late first period
• endometriosis
• polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (formerly known as polycystic ovarian syndrome)
• pregnancy complications, including high blood pressure in pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth and having a low birth weight baby
• some hormone treatments, including combined oral contraceptives in women over 35 and menopausal hormone therapy in postmenopausal women over 60
• early menopause
• autoimmune diseases, like lupus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis (this can also be a risk factor for men)
• certain cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Cardiac arrest vs heart attack: When to call 000

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, starving the heart of oxygen. A cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops beating effectively and can no longer pump blood around the body. A heart attack can sometimes lead to cardiac arrest.

Both are medical emergencies and require immediate medical attention. If you suspect someone is having a heart attack or cardiac arrest:

• call 000 without delay
• begin CPR if the person is unconscious or not breathing
• use an automated external defibrillator if available and the person is unconscious.

How your HCF cover supports heart health

Eligible members^* can access an HCF Heart and Diabetes Health Check at no extra cost, delivered by the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, at selected locations and dates.

We also offer access to The COACH Program^®, a four- to six-month phone-coaching support program for eligible members^{^} with heart conditions or diabetes, at no extra cost.

For non-emergency support managing heart disease risk factors, chat with your GP. Through HCF's partnership with GP2U, eligible members can access a standard online GP consultation (up to 10 minutes) for a fee of $50⁺, helping you get access to care when you need it. Rural and remote members^# with hospital and/or extras cover can access an annual 15-minute online GP consult at no extra cost.

The importance of early detection

Taking a few minutes for a heart check can help you take charge of your health and lower your risk of heart disease. Eligible members 18 years and older can get an HCF Heart and Diabetes Health Check, delivered by the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, during limited appointments at selected locations and dates^*. It only takes 10 minutes and you can get your results right away.