Heart attack warning signs differ for women | Health and Fitness

Posted on 13 May 2011.

Dr. Jennifer Lane says it's important for women to recognize heart attack warning signs.

SOURCE: Lake Norman Regional Medical Center
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. According to statistics from the American Heart Association, a coronary event strikes every 25 seconds in America. And, while heart disease is often considered to be a health problem that?s more prevalent among men, the truth of the matter is that more women die of heart disease each year than men?making it the number one killer among women?and claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined.

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The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease says one woman dies from heart disease almost every minute in the U.S.

One of the challenges with heart disease?and specifically heart attacks in women?is that the symptoms can be different to those experienced by men. And, because the symptoms don?t always present themselves as classic signs of a heart attack, women are often prone to delay seeking emergency treatment and, as a result, risk great damage to their hearts.

?Every second counts with a heart attack and the longer you wait to seek treatment, the worse the outcome is likely to be,? said Dr. Jennifer Lane, of Mooresville Family Practice. ?That?s why it?s so important for women to understand the warning signs of a heart attack and how the symptoms may differ from the classic symptoms that men tend to experience.?

WARNING SIGNS

According to research conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH), women very often experience physical symptoms well before they have a heart attack. Of the 515 women in the NIH study, 95 percent said they experienced new or different symptoms a month or more before the onset of their heart attack. The most commonly reported symptoms included unusual fatigue (70 percent), sleep disturbance (48 percent) and shortness of breath (42 percent).

Among the study participants, fewer than 30 percent of the women reported having any chest discomfort prior to their heart attacks and 43 percent reported no chest pain during any phase of the attack. Similar studies among men have found that between 17 and 27 percent of men do not experience chest pain during a heart attack.

Although fewer women experience chest pain during a heart attack than men, the majority of women do typically have some kind of chest discomfort, tightness or pressure during an attack. But, it?s not always as severe as the kind of pain men experience and it may not be the most prominent symptom. Studies have shown that women are more likely than men to have symptoms unrelated to chest pain during a heart attack, such as:

• Neck, shoulder, jaw, upper back, arm or abdominal discomfort
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Unusual fatigue or weakness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Feelings of anxiety

Research has shown that heart attack symptoms vary greatly from one woman to the next. Some women may experience typical crushing chest pain, tightness or discomfort while others may have no chest pain at all, and present with other symptoms such as fatigue or jaw pain.

?Given that women?s heart attack symptoms are often more subtle than men?s, it?s vitally important that women educate themselves on the warning signs that may signal the onset of a heart attack,? said Dr. Lane. ?The sooner that symptoms are recognized and action is taken, the higher the likelihood of a positive outcome.?

?Any woman who suspects she?s having a heart attack should call 911 immediately and should take an aspirin to prevent further blood clotting,? advised Dr. Lane. ?Once at the hospital, be sure that the emergency staff take your complaints seriously and insist that an EKG and/or blood enzyme test be administered to determine if you?re having a heart attack.?

Although heart disease is becoming more prevalent among women of all age groups, medical experts agree that it?s not unstoppable. Women can significantly reduce their odds of becoming a heart attack statistic by educating themselves on the risk factors and symptoms of heart attacks, having the information they need, and making heart-smart changes in their lives.

Source: http://davidsonnews.net/healthandfitness/2011/05/13/heart-attack-warning-signs-differ-for-women/

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