Chest pain right now? Stop reading and call 999, or open Emergency mode.
A bigger risk than most women think
According to the British Heart Foundation, coronary heart disease kills more than twice as many women in the UK as breast cancer. Yet many women still think of heart attacks as something that happens to older men.
Research funded by the British Heart Foundation has found that women having a heart attack are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed at first, and less likely to receive some recommended treatments. Part of the reason is that women, and sometimes the people treating them, don't always recognise the symptoms.
The symptoms
Chest pain or discomfort is still the most common symptom in women. It often feels like pressure, tightness or heaviness rather than a sharp pain. But women are more likely than men to also have, or only have, other symptoms:
Don’t talk yourself out of it. The most common reasons women give for waiting are "I thought it was indigestion", "I didn’t want to make a fuss" and "I had to sort out the children first". If the symptoms are new, last more than a few minutes, or just feel wrong, call 999.
Causes that are more common in women
SCAD (spontaneous coronary artery dissection)
SCAD is a tear in the wall of a heart artery. Blood collects in the wall and blocks the artery, causing a heart attack. Around 9 in 10 people with SCAD are women, often aged 30 to 60, and many are fit and healthy with none of the usual risk factors. It is linked to pregnancy and the months after giving birth, and to intense physical or emotional stress. The symptoms are the same as any heart attack. It is treated differently, so it matters that doctors consider it.
Problems with the small blood vessels
Some women get angina-type chest pain, but their angiogram shows clear main arteries. The problem can be in the tiny blood vessels of the heart muscle, called coronary microvascular disease. If you're told "your arteries are fine" but still get pain on exertion, ask whether this has been considered.
Life stages that change your risk
- Menopause: heart disease risk rises after the menopause, especially if it comes early, before 45.
- Pregnancy complications: pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure in pregnancy and gestational diabetes all raise your risk later in life. Tell your GP, even years later.
- Autoimmune conditions: rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which are more common in women, increase heart risk.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is linked to higher blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes risk.
See chest pain in pregnancy for advice during and after pregnancy.
Making sure you're taken seriously
- Say the words.When you call 999, say "I think I’m having a heart attack." Describe every symptom, not just the chest.
- Give the timeline.When it started, whether it comes and goes, and what you were doing.
- Ask directly.In A&E or at the GP, it’s fine to ask: "Could this be my heart? Have I had an ECG and a troponin blood test?"
- Bring someone if you can.A friend or relative can help you remember what was said and speak up for you.
You know your own body. If something feels seriously wrong, you are allowed to say so and ask for a second look.
Sources
This page is based on the published guidance below. It was last updated on 30 September 2026. Read how we write our content, or email hello@chestpain.org.uk to report a mistake.