Women’s Heart Attack Symptoms Different From Men’s

What does a heart attack feel like? The answer to that question may be very different if you pose it to a man or a woman. According to a recent study, many women under 55 often don’t recognize the true symptoms, but expect to have the “Hollywood Heart Attack,” exhibiting a tight chest and dropping to their knees.

It’s a mistake that can cost them their lives. And it’s the reason many don’t seek early care for heart issues, according to the American Heart Association.

But it’s not the only cause for cardiac concern. It turns out women often downplay the importance of their own health care in the face of family obligations. And young women just don’t expect it will happen to them.

Neither do their doctors. Because younger women aren’t considered within the susceptible age group, even when they do seek help, they often experience long wait times because their symptoms seem to be non-cardiac. “While this was certainly not the experience for all women, repeated stories of being triaged to less urgent care initially for what were thought to be non-cardiac conditions suggest that additional work is needed to help young women, their families and healthcare providers recognize that young women with heart disease may present with typical and atypical symptoms,” remembers Judith Lichtman, the lead author of the study.

Joyce Singer was caught off guard with her heart attack.  After undergoing a massive attack, she learned the symptoms of cardiac trouble.  “What happened was I suddenly was having severe fatigue. I was having shoulder pain, jaw pain, but I was ignoring it.”  She has since undergone a quadruple bipass that she credits with her life.

All of which proves it’s hard to see what you’re not looking for. 

That’s why the Heart and Stroke Foundation has launched a new campaign called “The Heart Truth,” which “aims to raise awareness among women of ways to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke, and give them the tools they need to protect themselves.” 

It’s no easy task because the symptoms could easily be confused with indigestion or other non-heart related ailments.

Here are some symptoms that you’re having a heart attack (the non-Hollywood kind):
·       Chest pain or discomfort
·       Pain in the arm, neck, jaw, or back
·       Nausea, indigestion or vomiting
·       Sweating and/or cool, clammy skin
·       Difficulty breathing

But according to Dr. Beth Abramson, the best plan is prevention. “If you’re a youger woman who’s out of shape and overweight, if you don’t start assessing and being aware of heart-healthy behaviour, you’re going to end up seeing the cardiologist down the road,” she warns. “And we want to try and avoid that.”

What can you do to lower your risk of heart disease? Try these:

Manage your Weight

There are a lot of ways that a heftier waistline can put your health at risk. Besides diabetes and high blood pressure, the Heart and Stroke Foundations says obesity increases your chance of having heart disease by two or three times. Keeping a svelte figure can have more advantages than just vanity.

Get your exercise

This is directly related to the weight tip. Exercise helps to prevent high blood pressure, obesity, and blockage of the arteries, all of which put your ticker in a tough spot. And don’t feel pressure to overhaul your life to experience these changes. Any little extra activity can help – and you can build up from that.

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For more information on prevention, recognition, and treatment, click here.

For an online quiz that can assess your risk, click here.