New Definition of a Heart Attack May Help Women Get Treated Earlier

I am always trying to keep up with latest research and developments on women's health. Thanks to Feisty Media (a women-led media company), I heard about an interesting change impacting heart health. The world’s leading cardiology organizations—including the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology and World Heart Federation—have updated how heart attacks are defined and diagnosed. These changes could help doctors better recognize heart attacks in women.

Why does this matter for women?

Heart attacks don't always look the same in women as they do in men.

One important change involves troponin, a protein released into the blood when heart muscle is injured. Women naturally tend to have lower troponin levels than men, yet the same cutoff has sometimes been used for both sexes. The new definition specifically calls for sex-specific troponin thresholds, which may help reduce the risk of missing heart-related injury in women.

Another important change is greater recognition of SCAD (spontaneous coronary artery dissection)—a tear in the wall of a coronary artery. SCAD disproportionately affects women and can cause a heart attack even without the typical buildup of plaque. The new definition now specifically recognizes SCAD as a cause of a primary heart attack.

The guidelines also emphasize that when someone has signs of a heart attack but no major blockage is found, doctors may need to keep looking for the underlying cause rather than simply saying, "There was no blockage, so you're fine." This is particularly important for women, who are disproportionately affected by these less typical heart presentations.

Here's what hasn't changed…

Don't ignore the symptoms.

We often think of a heart attack as crushing chest pain. But women may experience more subtle or less familiar symptoms, including:

• Chest pressure, tightness or discomfort

• Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, shoulders, arms or back

• Shortness of breath

• Unusual sweating

• Nausea or vomiting

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Sudden, unexplained weakness

• Unusual or overwhelming fatigue

That last one is especially easy to dismiss. "I'm just tired" is something many of us say all the time. But sudden, unusual fatigue—especially when accompanied by other symptoms—is something worth paying attention to.

Remember: being fit does not make you immune to heart disease or a heart attack. You can exercise, eat well and take great care of yourself and still have cardiovascular risk factors.

❤️Your heart deserves your attention ❤️

Know your numbers. Know your family history. Pay attention to changes in your body. And don't be afraid to advocate for yourself—especially if something doesn't feel right.

If you think you may be having a heart attack, call 911. Don't drive yourself and don't wait to see if it passes. Every minute matters.