For years, "typical" heart attack symptoms were derived from observations made in men who had experienced a heart attack. Recently, research has discovered that women seem to have a different set of heart attack symptoms. Clinicians and public health officials tout chest pain as the major symptom of a heart attack, followed by shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, and nausea or vomiting. The pain may also radiate to the shoulders, arms, neck or jaw. But in a recent study in "Circulation" said that up to 43 percent of the 500 women studied had no chest pain associated with their heart attacks. The majority of women don't even consider heart disease to be the number one health concern of women.
Pre-Heart Attack Signs and Symptoms
Research shows that up to 95 percent of women experience a number of unusual signs and symptoms prior to a heart attack. In fact, in a study reported in "Circulation," most women had at least five symptoms the month prior to their cardiac event. The most common symptom was unusual fatigue, followed by sleep disturbance, shortness of breath, indigestion and anxiety. Less than 30 percent reported any type of chest pain. Those who did report chest "pain" were more likely to use terms such as "pressure," "ache," "tightness" or "fullness" when referring to the sensations felt in the chest. Common sites for pain tend to be in the chest, upper back, as well as the left arm and shoulder.
Actual Heart Attack Symptoms
According to the American Heart Association, 3.5 million women experience a heart attack every year. More than 40 percent of the women had no chest pain associated with their heart attack but more than one third of the women did experience back pain, centered between the shoulder blades. Almost 60 percent reported shortness of breath, 55 percent felt week, 43 percent had unusual fatigue, and about 40 percent experienced a cold sweat or dizziness.
Significance
A 10-year study published by the American Heart Association found that women were more likely then men to experience sudden cardiac death. This is likely attributed to inaccuracies in identifying signals of female cardiac distress. Women who experience any of the early indicators of coronary artery disease, such as unusual fatigue and sleep disturbance, may ignore these important warning signs as they may seem insignificant. Those who do seek medical attention are often misdiagnosed or the symptoms are minimized or ignored by clinicians. Even during the actual cardiac event, many health-care providers continue to consider chest pain as the primary indicator of a heart attack.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease
In addition to early recognition of warning signs, it is important to be aware of risk factors associated with heart attack. Family history is a primary risk as is being older than 55 years of age. There are significantly more risk factors that can be controlled. Smokers and those with a high BMI, or body mass index, are at increased risk. High blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes also increase the likelihood of experiencing a heart attack. More than half of women suffering a heart attack also reported no regular physical activity.
Listen to Your Body
The body often sends many warning signs; these symptoms are often reliable indicators of changes in health status. Not only is it is important to recognize the early warning signs of coronary artery disease, but it is important to convey these changes to your personal health-care provider. When coronary artery disease is caught early, heart attack may be prevented and damage to the heart minimized. A heart attack can cause permanent, irreparable damage to the heart tissue, creating a weakened heart. Sudden cardiac death is also a major risk associated with denying heart attack symptoms.
Don't Hesitate to Call for EMS
If someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms associated with a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Place the person in a comfortable position and try to keep the person calm. While waiting for EMS to arrive, offer an aspirin as long as she is not allergic or sensitive to aspirin use. Have her chew the aspirin thoroughly and inform EMS when they arrive.
