Although many people mistakenly believe that cardiovascular disease isn't a problem for women, it's still a leading cause of death. Unfortunately, women tend to have different heart attack symptoms than men, so heart disease may go unrecognized until it's too late. In a study of 515 women who'd had heart attacks, the most frequently reported symptoms were unusual fatigue, sleep disturbances, shortness of breath, indigestion, and anxiety. Less than one-third reported any chest discomfort.