Cardiac Arrest & Heart Attack: Gender Differences in Recognition and Care

📊 Critical UK Statistics

Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests Annually in UK

30,000

Less than 10% survive

Women Admitted for Heart Attack (UK)

70,000

Per year

Women Dying from Heart Attacks (UK)

25,000

Per year - 3 women every hour

Avoidable Women's Deaths (England & Wales)

8,200+

Over 10 years due to treatment gaps

Women More Likely to Get Wrong Initial Diagnosis

50%

Higher chance than men

Cardiac Arrests in Men vs Women

2:1

Two thirds occur in men

⚠️ The Gender Gap in Heart Attack Care

Women Face Significant Barriers to Care:

50% higher chance of wrong initial diagnosis - Making women less likely to receive prompt life-saving treatments
Later presentation to hospital - Women often don't recognise symptoms or dismiss them as "not serious enough"
Less likely to be prescribed life-saving medications:
- 2.7% less likely to receive statins
- 7.4% less likely to receive beta blockers
Risk factors affect women more:
- Smoking increases women's risk twice as much as men's
- High blood pressure increases women's risk 80% more
- Type 2 diabetes increases women's risk 50% more

Why the Gender Gap Exists:

Misconceptions about symptoms - Belief that women have "different" symptoms delays recognition
Women dismiss their own symptoms - Attributing them to stress, anxiety, or being "too young"
Healthcare disparities - Unconscious bias in diagnosis and treatment
Awareness gaps - Women are twice as likely to die of coronary heart disease as breast cancer, yet awareness is lower

💔 Heart Attack Symptoms - Common for BOTH Men and Women

Research shows NO difference in key heart attack symptoms between genders

Chest pain or discomfort (93% of both men and women) Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in centre or left side of chest. Lasts more than a few minutes OR goes away and comes back.
Pain that spreads May spread to your left or right arm, or to your neck, jaw, back, or stomach.
Feeling sick, sweaty, light-headed, or short of breath Can occur with or without chest pain.

⚠️ "Less Typical" Symptoms - More Common in MEN

Important: BHF research found that less typical symptoms were MORE common in men than women (41% in men vs 23% in women)

🚹 MEN (41%)

Epigastric pain (heartburn)
Back pain
Burning pain
Stabbing pain
Indigestion-like pain

🚺 WOMEN (23%)

Less likely to have "atypical" symptoms
More likely to have classic chest pain
But symptoms still dismissed or misattributed

Key Point: The myth that women have "different" or "atypical" symptoms is harmful. Both men and women primarily experience chest pain, but women's symptoms are more likely to be dismissed by themselves and healthcare providers.

🚫 Why Women's Heart Attacks Are Missed

🚺 Women Often Attribute Symptoms To:

❌ Stress or anxiety
❌ Acid reflux or indigestion
❌ Being "too young" for a heart attack
❌ Normal aging or menopause
❌ Being out of shape
❌ "Not serious enough" to call 999

✓ What Women Should Know:

✓ Chest pain IS the most common symptom for women too
✓ You can have a heart attack at any age, especially after menopause
✓ Coronary heart disease kills more women than breast cancer
✓ ANY chest pain that occurs suddenly and doesn't go away = call 999
✓ Feeling sick, sweaty, or short of breath with any pain = call 999
✓ Trust your instincts - if something feels wrong, get help

⚠️ Warning Signs 24 Hours Before Cardiac Arrest

International research shows nearly half of people have warning symptoms up to 24 hours before cardiac arrest, and these DO differ by gender:

🚺 WOMEN

Primary Warning Sign:

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

(Dyspnoea)

Unusual fatigue
Sleep disturbances
Anxiety
Indigestion-like feeling

🚹 MEN

Primary Warning Sign:

CHEST PAIN

Shortness of breath
Sweating (diaphoresis)
Chest discomfort
Arm or jaw discomfort

🚨 CALL 999 IMMEDIATELY FOR:

Any Symptoms of Heart Attack:

Chest pain or discomfort that occurs suddenly and doesn't go away
Pain spreading to arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach
Feeling sick, sweaty, light-headed, or short of breath
ANY combination of the above symptoms

For Everyone:

Don't wait to see if symptoms get better
Don't worry about wasting paramedics' time
The faster you act, the better the chances
WHEN IN DOUBT - RING 999!

If you think someone might be having a heart attack,
call 999 immediately

📞 What Happens When You Ring 999

Call 999 - Ask for an ambulance
Describe symptoms clearly - Mention chest pain, shortness of breath, etc.
Give your location - Be as precise as possible
Stay on the line - The operator will give you instructions
Help the person rest - Sit them down in a comfortable position
If they have GTN spray or tablets - Help them take it (prescribed medication for angina)
If not allergic, give aspirin - 300mg to chew (if available)
Be prepared to do CPR - If they become unconscious

🧠 Memory Aids

For Everyone:

"PAIN ALERT"

Pain in chest that occurs suddenly
Arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach pain
Indigestion or burning feeling
Nausea or feeling sick

Awareness - trust your instincts
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Exhaustion or fatigue
Ring 999 immediately
Time matters - act fast

Women - Before Cardiac Arrest:

"S.O.B. is SERIOUS"

Shortness
Of
Breath

Men - Before Cardiac Arrest:

"CHEST-P"

Chest pain
Heavy feeling
Extreme discomfort
Sweating
Tightness
Pressure

🎯 BOTTOM LINE

💔 Heart attack symptoms are SIMILAR for men and women

🚺 Women's symptoms are MORE LIKELY to be dismissed or misdiagnosed

⚠️ Women: Don't dismiss your symptoms - trust your instincts

📞 EVERYONE: Any chest pain or discomfort = Ring 999

⏱️ Time matters - the faster you act, the better the outcome

"Better to ring 999 and be wrong than wait and regret it"

✅ Action Steps

🚺 For Women:

Know that chest pain IS your most common symptom too
Don't dismiss symptoms as stress, anxiety, or "nothing serious"
Risk increases after menopause - be vigilant
You're twice as likely to die of heart disease than breast cancer
Ring 999 - don't wait to be sure
Advocate for yourself if symptoms are dismissed

🚹 For Men:

Chest pain is your primary warning
Don't engage in denial - "it's probably nothing"
Cardiac arrests are twice as common in men
Don't wait to see if it gets worse
Ring 999 - don't drive yourself
Be aware of risk factors - take them seriously

For Everyone:

Learn CPR - Resuscitation Council UK offers courses
Know where defibrillators are in your community
Understand your personal risk factors
Support women in seeking prompt medical care
Challenge misconceptions about women's heart attack symptoms

📚 UK Resources and Support

🚨 Emergency

999

For heart attack or cardiac arrest

❤️ British Heart Foundation

0808 802 1234

Heart Helpline (freephone)
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

www.bhf.org.uk

🫀 Resuscitation Council UK

CPR and first aid training

www.resus.org.uk

🏥 NHS

111 - For urgent medical help
(when not life-threatening)

www.nhs.uk