When you think of a heart attack, you might picture someone clutching their chest in pain. But did you know that back pain can also be a symptom of a heart attack?

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Heart disease can sometimes lead to a heart attack. In fact, many people don’t know they have heart disease until they have a heart attack.

It can be helpful to know the symptoms of heart disease and a heart attack, so you can pay attention to your body’s health. This article will explore the connection between back pain and heart attacks, which can be especially important for women.

Back Pain and Other Unusual Heart Attack Symptoms

The most common sign of a heart attack is chest pain that doesn’t go away. It might also spread to one or both arms or your jaw. This pain will last for at least a few minutes. However, approximately 1 out of 3 heart attacks cause atypical symptoms, including back pain.

Back pain during a heart attack can be tricky to identify. It might not feel like what you’d expect. Here’s what you may experience:

• Sudden onset — Heart attack-related back pain often comes on suddenly. This sudden pain can occur during physical exertion, but it continues after you’ve stopped.
• Persistence — Unlike muscle strains that might ease with rest, back pain from a heart attack typically persists. It may come and go, but it tends to worsen over time.
• Upper back pain — The pain can be felt in the upper back and between the shoulder blades. It might also spread to the jaw, neck, or arms.
• A feeling of pressure — People often describe the back pain associated with a heart attack as a pressure, squeezing, or burning sensation rather than a sharp or stabbing pain.

Other atypical heart attack symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Cold sweats
• Unusual fatigue (tiredness that does not improve with rest)

It’s important to note that back pain rarely occurs by itself during a heart attack. It happens more often with other typical or atypical heart attack symptoms. There are also other life-threatening conditions that cause back pain, not just heart attacks. So, if your back pain doesn’t go away or is accompanied by other symptoms, seek help from your healthcare team.

Is Back Pain During a Heart Attack More Common for Women?

All of the atypical heart attack symptoms, including back pain, are more common in women than in men, according to research published in the Journal of Mid-Life Health. However, all heart attack symptoms can arise for people of any gender, so it’s important to be aware of them.

Atypical symptoms of heart attack like back pain can be confused for other health issues, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. According to the American Heart Association, because women are more likely than men to have atypical heart attack symptoms, they are also more likely to receive an initial misdiagnosis during a heart attack. Unfortunately, that can be life-threatening, and that’s why it is important to know about atypical symptoms.

What Should You Do if You Think You’re Having a Heart Attack?

If you think you might be having a heart attack, time is of the essence. Here’s what you should do:

• Call emergency services immediately — Call 911 right away. Don’t wait to see if symptoms improve, or try to drive yourself to the hospital. Every minute counts when it comes to heart attacks.
• Take aspirin — Aspirin can help prevent blood clots from forming. If you’re not allergic and have it available, chew and swallow an aspirin (unless your doctor has told you not to).
• Stay calm and sit or lie down — Try to relax and take slow, deep breaths while waiting for help to arrive. Loosen any tight clothing.
• Unlock your door — If possible, unlock your front door (or have someone with you unlock it) so emergency responders can enter easily if you lose consciousness.
• Gather information — If you can, make a list of your medications and any allergies to share with emergency responders. It might be good to prepare this list beforehand and leave it in an accessible area that you can direct first responders to.

Don’t ignore your symptoms or try to “tough it out.” Many people hesitate to call for help because they’re not sure if what they’re experiencing is really a heart attack. By knowing the various ways a heart attack can show up, you’ll be better able to spot warning signs and get medical help fast. Acting quickly when you think you’re having a heart attack could save your life.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyHeartDiseaseTeam is the social network for people with heart disease and their loved ones. On MyHeartDiseaseTeam, more than 62,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with heart disease.

Have you experienced back pain related to heart disease? Were you diagnosed with a heart attack? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.