Toronto, Oct 26 - Heart attack symptoms for men and women have many more similarities than is popularly believed, says a new study.

"Both the media and some patient educational materials frequently suggest that women experience symptoms of a heart attack very differently from men," says Martha Mackay, clinical research fellow at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

"These findings suggest that this is simply not the case," adds Mackay, also a doctoral student at the University of British Columbia (UBC) School of Nursing.

The warning signals of a heart attack for women and men are sudden discomfort or pain that does not go away with rest. It may be in the chest, neck, jaw, shoulder, arms or back; pain that may feel like burning, squeezing, heaviness, tightness or pressure.

In women, pain may be more vague. Chest pain or discomfort that is brought on with exertion and goes away with rest, shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, nausea, indigestion, vomiting, sweating, cool, clammy skin, fear, anxiety etc.

So, given this rich array of symptoms, why have studies shown that female cardiac patients do not experience chest discomfort or other 'typical' symptoms as frequently as men?

The Mackay team's study of 305 patients undergoing angioplasty, which briefly causes symptoms similar to a heart attack, found no gender differences in rates of chest discomfort or other 'typical' symptoms such as arm discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, indigestion-like symptoms, and clammy skin.

While both women and men may experience typical or non-typical symptoms, the major difference was that female patients were more likely to have both the classic symptoms of heart attack plus throat, jaw, and neck discomfort.

Mackay notes that previous studies have had some drawbacks. She also thinks a breakdown in communication may be a factor.

"In today's fast-paced hospital emergency departments, doctors must try to gather information about a patient's symptoms quickly and efficiently," she says.

"Unfortunately this may sometimes mean they ask about a limited 'menu' of symptoms and some may be missed." She advises female patients to tell their doctor all of their symptoms - not just the ones they are asked about.

"Where women are concerned, some extra probing could result in a speedier and more complete diagnosis," she says.

This is also especially important since women are 16 percent more likely than men to die after a heart attack, says a CIHR release.

These findings were presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2009, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. (IANS)