HEALTH
BY CHARIS TORRANCE
Heart attacks can present with subtle symptoms, particularly in women. Recognising these hidden warning signs early on could save your life.
When most people think of a heart attack, they imagine someone clutching their chest and collapsing. In reality, symptoms can be far more subtle, especially in women. These socalled“ silent” heart attacks may present as fatigue, nausea, breathlessness, or discomfort rather than severe chest pain, making them easier to overlook.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally, yet many women are still unaware that heart attacks may look very different from the dramatic episodes often portrayed in movies and television.
WHAT IS A SILENT HEART ATTACK? According to cardiologist Dr Amima Sundas, a heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart is reduced or blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle.
A silent heart attack is one that goes unrecognised at the time. The person may experience no obvious symptom.
“ The difference is that the symptoms may be mild, unusual or mistaken for other conditions,” explains Dr Sundas.
Crushing chest pain or discomfort remains the most common symptom among both men and women. However, women are more likely to experience additional symptoms such as breathlessness or unusual fatigue alongside chest pain or in its absence.
70 INBOUND SA / SEPTEMBER 2026