Spot the signs: Symptoms of a heart attack in men

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australian men.¹ While anyone can develop it, cardiovascular disease kills almost 40% more men than women each year.²

Knowing your risk factors and being able to recognise the early symptoms of a heart attack can help keep your heart healthy.

Research and data show that anyone, of any age or sex, can develop a heart problem. Your age, a family history of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and other health and lifestyle factors can put you at risk.

However, heart disease does impact more men than women.

There are biological, lifestyle and social factors that may increase the risk of heart disease in men. These can include:³

• hormones: Oestrogen and progesterone are hormones that women produce in high amounts until menopause. They both have protective benefits for the heart and can help to lower bad cholesterol, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Men only produce small amounts of these hormones, which means they don't get the same level of protection as women.
• abdominal obesity: Men tend to carry excess weight around their mid-section. Known as visceral fat, this type of belly fat raises the risk of heart attack as it increases inflammation, high blood pressure and high blood sugar.
• mental health: Research suggests that men are less likely to seek help for stress or anger issues than women.⁴ These are both risk factors for heart disease.⁵
• lifestyle: Men generally smoke and drink more alcohol than women, which are also risk factors for heart disease.⁶

Heart disease can be present in the body for years with few symptoms. However, as the disease progresses there can be clear signs that you are at risk of a heart attack.

"Men often present with the common symptoms we know to be related to a heart attack, such as pressure or pain in the chest," says Dr Chethan Kasargod, cardiologist with Advara HeartCare, Australia's largest cardiac care provider. "Symptoms can come on very abruptly, such as a sudden shortness of breath while walking, or they can persist over time, such as ongoing fatigue or nausea."

Common symptoms of a heart attack in men can include:⁷

• a pressure or heaviness on the chest
• chest pain
• indigestion
• discomfort or fluttering in the chest for more than 15 minutes
• sudden or prolonged shortness of breath, especially during exercise
• pain down the arms
• neck, jaw or back ache
• nausea
• ongoing fatigue.

It’s important to stay up to date with your health checks as recommended for your stage of life or by your doctor.

An annual heart health check is available for:

• anyone aged 45 to 79 years old
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 30 or over
• people with diabetes aged 35 or over.

This simple, 20-minute test is covered by Medicare and may help to predict your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 5 years.

He also recommends measuring your blood pressure at home.

"Smart watches and at-home blood pressure machines can help you notice any changes to your blood pressure. Taken twice a week, you'll know whether you sit around the ideal mark, which is 120 over 70, and be able to notice if anything changes. Ongoing high blood pressure can cause damage to the heart, so it's important to catch it early on."

Another important way to monitor your heart health is to take notice when and if symptoms occur.

"Don't ignore shortness of breath or chest pain," says Dr Kasargod. "Don't wait. If you have symptoms, seek medical help immediately."

The Heart Foundation offers information, tools and support to help you reduce your risk and prevent or manage heart disease. They also provide information on the range of heart health checks available, guidelines on monitoring your cholesterol and blood pressure, and healthy living advice.