Dr Amir Khan has issued a warning that an "unusual" shoulder pain could be a sign of a heart attack, a symptom that is more likely to affect women than men. The medical emergency, known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is suddenly blocked, making prompt recognition of symptoms and calling 999 critical.
Common and Lesser-Known Symptoms
While many people are aware of classic heart attack signs such as chest pain and breathlessness, there are lesser-known symptoms that are more common in women. Speaking on the Lorraine show, Dr Amir Khan explained that shoulder pain is one such symptom that may be overlooked.
"Women and men both get crushing chest pain and shortness of breath during heart attacks, and those are important symptoms—call 999. But women are more likely to get atypical, unusual symptoms as well, shoulder pain being one," he said.
Why Symptoms Differ
Dr Khan elaborated on the physiological reasons behind the difference. "In men, a heart attack typically involves a complete blockage of one of the main arteries. In women, it often results from blockages in many small arteries, affecting more of the heart and producing different symptoms. The nerves supplying the heart can cause pain in the jaw, down the arm, shoulder pain, sweating, nausea, and even dizziness."
He stressed that women should not dismiss these symptoms. "One in four men die of a heart attack, and one in four women die of a heart attack. It is not a men's disease. So think about all the different symptoms that could indicate a heart attack in women."
Symptoms More Likely in Women
Dr Khan listed the following symptoms as more likely to occur in women:
- Shoulder pain
- Jaw pain
- Back pain
- Nausea
- Breathlessness
- Extreme fatigue
- Indigestion
He urged, "Get it checked, ladies." In a social media post, he added, "Because these symptoms can be more subtle, women are unfortunately more likely to delay seeking help or be misdiagnosed initially. The important message is this: women absolutely do get classic crushing chest pain too, but heart attacks in women can sometimes present differently. Please don't ignore persistent chest symptoms, unusual breathlessness, sudden exhaustion, or pain that feels wrong for you—especially if you have risk factors like smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, menopause, family history, or high cholesterol."
Expert Backing
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) supports Dr Khan's warning, stating, "Men and women mostly share the same heart attack symptoms, but women sometimes experience lesser-known symptoms rather than chest pain."
The NHS advises calling 999 if you experience chest pain that feels tight or like squeezing, chest pain spreading to arms, neck, or jaw, severe difficulty breathing, pale or blue lips or skin (on brown or black skin, check palms), or if someone has passed out and is not responding normally.
