ask: What is the likliness of a 20 year old female having a heart attack?

It is certainly possible that a 20 year old may have a heart attack. Although heart attacks are more common after menopause, don't dismiss the possibility. WebMd provides these symptoms in order to recognize the symptoms.

For both women and men, heart attack symptoms can include:
Squeezing chest pain or pressure
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Tightness in chest
Pain spreading to shoulders, neck, arm, or jaw
Feeling of heartburn or indigestion with or without nausea and vomiting
Sudden dizziness or brief loss of consciousness
Heart attack symptoms that are more likely to occur in women include:
Indigestion or gas-like pain or nausea
Unexplained dizziness, weakness, or fatigue
Discomfort or pain between the shoulder blades
Recurring chest discomfort
Sense of impending doom

We, at EmpowHer.com, also have many links to different heart attack questions and you can find many questions and answers here http://www.empowher.com/condition/heart-attack/community/all/recent.

Stress and anxiety can certainly trigger a heart attack too. I noticed that you are already suffering from anxiety. Are you being treated for the anxiety? The symptoms of anxiety are very similar. HelpGuide.org provides these symptoms to recognize an anxiety attack

Emotional symptoms of anxiety

In addition to the primary symptoms of irrational and excessive fear and worry, other common emotional symptoms of anxiety include:

Feelings of apprehension or dread
Trouble concentrating
Feeling tense and jumpy
Anticipating the worst
Irritability
Restlessness
Watching for signs of danger
Feeling like your mind’s gone blank
Physical symptoms of anxiety

Anxiety is more than just a feeling. As a product of the body’s fight-or-flight response, anxiety involves a wide range of physical symptoms. Because of the numerous physical symptoms, anxiety sufferers often mistake their disorder for a medical illness. They may visit many doctors and make numerous trips to the hospital before their anxiety disorder is discovered.

Common physical symptoms of anxiety include:
Pounding heart
Sweating
Stomach upset or dizziness
Frequent urination or diarrhea
Shortness of breath
Tremors and twitches
Muscle tension
Headaches
Fatigue
Insomnia

I hope this information helps you. Please let us know how you are doing.

Hi, thanks for you question.

Melissa has given you some great information. While it is certainly possible for a 20 year old to have a heart attack, it's not probable but it could be anything from a heart arrhythmia to stress to even an asthma attack or severe heartburn. Heart attacks with young people are unusual but they do happen.

I would tell you to definitely call your doctor if the symptoms don't stop - there is always a doctor on call, no matter what time of the day, or head to the ER. If they told you to come in if these signs continue, then heed their advice!

Do you have a family history of heart disease and is this the first time this has happened to you?

Trust me, you are absolutely fine. I am 26 and suffered from many of the same symptoms..they magically went away when I took Xanax. I promise you that it is anxiety...I know people like to sound off warning bells, but you are a healthy 20 something year old female with an anxiety disorder! (especially with a normal EKG). YOU ARE NOT DYING!! Talk to your doctor about anxiety medication.

Best of luck

I have had very similar symptoms and am also a 20 year old female. I went to a urgent care medical center and had an EKG done which also came back "normal." However, I have a history of heart problems, and have a "high heart rate" of approx. 111 beats/min. I have also had panic attacks...although I haven't had any luck with diagnosis, I agree that it might be anxiety, as I live a rather high-stress life, and have found that when I am stressing more than usual about something, that is when I have my symptoms.