Heart Health

heart attack women

Read and learn more about heart attack women. For more, visit the MyHeartyHeath.com website.

Q: What are the symptoms of a heart attack for women? How do you know?
I am 45 and a woman. I have been having pain in my shoulders and mid back, trouble breathing, and dizziness. I have been using my inhaler every 2 hours and have been taking 800mgs of motrin for the pain and a gas X and previcid for my stomach. The breathing problems seems better but I am still in some pain. My husband, a nurse, says I am not presenting the symptoms of a heart attack and thinks it is more upper respiratory related. I have also had sore shoulders for a while with limited movement that my doctor thinks is my rotator cuff. Do you think I should ride it out on pain meds and albutoral or go to the emergency room? I’m not in distress as much as I was. Any suggestions? Thanks!

A: Very good question. Women present much differently than men do when it comes to your hearts. Atypical is the typical in women. I’ve diagnosed heart attacks (myocardial infarctions) time and time again in women who only have shortness of breath, nausea, weakness, shoulder pain (rotator cuff!), etc.
The thing I hate hearing most from my patients is that they are having ‘gas’ pain. So many times it turns out to be cardiac.
When you go to the emergency room they will do an ekg, chest xray, and cardiac enzymes (heart labs), etc. However, this alone does not rule out a heart attack. They will most likely keep you overnight to do atleast two more ekg’s and heart labs seperated by six hours and after you ‘rule out’ they’ll probably do stress testing.
Other life threatening conditions such as pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in your lungs), etc can present in a similar fashion.
It may be nothing, but please don’t make the mistake of blowing this off. Go straight to the hospital and check it out. I don’t want to say what I do for a living on this forum, but please believe me you need to go get this checked out.

Q: Heart Attack Symptoms In Women Not Take Seriously by Men Doctors..?
Why do women not get dignoised as fast as men when it comes to a heart attack. Women have different symptooms than men, and yet doctors do not take women seriously when they are having problems they can not explain…leading to death! Why hasn’t the medical feild made a list just for women on this?

A: “Women commonly have symptoms of shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue, or pressure in the lower chest, so they easily mistake it as a stomach ailment.”

In the Circulation study, common female heart attack symptoms include:

shortness of breath (57.9%)
weakness (54.8%)
unusual fatigue (42.9%)
Women also had these symptoms:

Nausea
Dizziness
Lower chest discomfort
Upper abdominal pressure or discomfort that may feel like indigestion
Back pain

Q: what are signs of heart attack for women?
heart attack signs i’ve been having back pains for a week now and pain in the temple when i yawn there is a popping i have a burping problem when i feel a little nauseous i just belch and belch, i don’t have to have eatten anything either chest soreness at times no hard pains though

A: I JUST went through this and spent a couple of days getting a complete heart work up. A “popping” in the jaw is more a symptom of TMJ rather than a heart condition. Having pains in the back and trouble with belching could be indicative of a gall bladder problem. What happened to me was severe chest pains followed by a numbness/severe pain in my jaw. My left arm was partially numb – all that and no heart attack thankfully! What I want to tell you is two things -

1.) Women are often misdiagnosed for heart attacks because they do not happen in women as frequently as in men.

2.) The symptoms you are having could be a number of other things and do not sound like a heart attack BUT go to your doctor and have them do a complete check up on your heart because you never know!

Q: I have heard that tingling in the fingers can be a symptom of a heart attack in women. Has anybody else heard?
I get tingling in my fingers sometimes when I dry my hands on a towel, or when I take my walks.

A: The way the symptoms of a heart attack are taught to both health care providers and the general public for the most part is that any pain or “strange/unusual” feeling from “Teeth to Tummy” could possibly be a “heart attack.” The reason for this is to encourage all health care providers as well as the general public who may be at risk to keep a high index of suspicion. The way they AHA used to educate the public was found to have major holes – they tended to teach about the “10/10 crushing chest pain radiating to the jaw and left arm” and that is not how many, many heart attacks present.

So, basically, the dangers and implications of letting someone who is actually having a heart attack pass under the radar are so great that it is better to err on the safe side and have that person with questionable symptoms be tested and treated just in case, because there is that 1 in a million (not an actual statistic) person that is actually having a heart attack and only has tingling in their hand.

However, having said that, I have treated hundreds of patients who were having actual MIs, and NOT ONE of them presented with ONLY tingling in their hands. HOWEVER, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen. Most likely though, if you are having tingling in BOTH hands, that points much more to a neurological problem, or a circulation problem (like if it happens when your hands are cold (after washing) or when you go on walks (circulation is down to your hands).)

If you have any accompanying symptoms, it is more likely to be cardiac (heart) related. If you have any shortness of breath, lightheadedness, getting tired very quickly when you haven’t done that much exercise (walking up the stairs, etc), those also point to a cardiac problem.

Also, it seems like what you’re talking about is more of a long-term problem. Has the tingling been increased today? Did you have any other symptoms you don’t normally have? A “heart attack” is not a long-term event. It is an acute emergency that is not ongoing over many days or weeks. The people who have “silent” heart attacks (are very lucky to survive, first of all and) are usually are experiencing a smaller event that is not in an area of the heart that would show damage immediately, such as within the conduction system. If you have been having the tingling for many weeks or months, although it may be a cardiac-related symptom, it is highly unlikely it is a symptom of a heart attack. Unless the tingling increases in severity suddenly or changes from how it usually feels. I know that was kind of confusing, I hope it made sense.

You should talk to your doctor, especially if you are post-menopause (those women often have very atypical presentations when they have heart attacks) and just have him do an EKG of your heart and whatever else he feels is necessary just to be on the safe side. Like I said, tingling could be a sign of a cardiac problem, but as an isolated, chronic symptom, it is highly unlikely to be a heart attack. Another bonus of talking to your doctor is if he doesn’t think it’s cardiac related, he can probably give you some advice on how to make it go away. For instance, if it is carpal tunnel (certainly a possibility), there are exercises, physical therapy and surgery to make the symptoms go away. You want to make sure you are treating the right thing. But kudos to you for doing your research, always better safe than sorry. And if you get any accompanying symptoms like shortness of breath, go to the ER or call an ambulance, because those signs, with the tingling, could indicate an acute emergency such as a heart attack (or other things). Good luck and feel better!

Q: whats the reason behind less heart attack cases in women than men?
i have never heard any women died of heart attack and heart failure in my neighborhood.
plz give detailed scientific reason.
thanks

A: Risk of heart attack in women after menopause are same as in men. Before menopause ‘oestrogen’ a hormone from ovary protects them from heart attack. Smoking, high % of bad cholesterol– (LDL) , drinking, stress, obesity are other contributors in men for more heart attacks.

Q: How do heart attack symptoms differ between men and women?
What are the symptoms of a heart attack and how do they differ between men and women?

A: central chest pain (heaviness or tightness or squeezing type of pain) radiating to the left arm and sometimes to the right arm , tha neck and jaw. shortness of breath and excessive sweating Loss of consciousness and sudden death
The most common symptoms of MI in women include dyspnea, weakness, and fatigue. Fatigue, sleep disturbances, and dyspnea have been reported as frequently occurring symptoms which may manifest as long as one month before the actual clinically manifested ischemic event. In women, chest pain may be less predictive of coronary ischemia than in men

Q: Women Heart attack outlook?
I wondered if there are other women over age 70 who have had a heart attack and who survive for several years after the attack without another heart attack occurring.

A: once u have one you ll more than likely have them regular, like every 2 years or even more.

Q: Who is most likely to have a heart attack men or women and why?
So I was wondering because I’m doing a paper for school.

A: Some 7,200,000 men and 6,000,000 women are living with some form of coronary heart disease. 1,200,000 people suffer a (new or recurrent) coronary attack every year, and about 40% of them die as a result of the attack. This means that roughly every 65 seconds, an American dies of a coronary event.

Q: what are symptoms of heart attack in women?
in the past 3-4 weeks i have had heartburn (i take prilosec) and some vertigo while sitting/standing. also have experienced weakness in knees when standing…like i am gonna collapse. and today i had neck pain right below jaws…i am 59yrs old and kinda scared. i need advice…thanks

A: For women, the symptoms are not as clear cut as for men. While all of the normal symptoms> chest pressure, shortness of breath, dizziness, jaw/left arm pain, profuse sweating< are sometimes found with women, many times there is only one or two of these symptoms, or none of them at all. Basically, if you feel like something is wrong, don't wait to see what happens, just go to the ER and have it checked out... Immediately. You are at a prime age for a heart attack, and the symptoms you describe are alarming. Take 4 of the 80 mg chewable aspirins if you have them and go straight to the emergency room.
My Uncle told family members last year that he thought he may have had a minor heart attack a couple of weeks before their conversation, but thought he was fine since he began taking a couple aspirin every morning and the symptoms were pretty minor. Two days later he had a massive heart attack in front of his 16 year old daughter. He was 54. It was devastating to everyone, and what made it worse is he would still be here today if he had gone to the doctor when he first thought something was wrong. If you go and it turns out your heart is okay… that would be great news. If you don’t, and you have a heart attack, the impact of your death on your loved ones can be devastating.

Q: what are symptoms for women having heart attack?
are they same as for man?

A: There were some studies done and some women do have different symptoms than men. Some women do not have acute chest pain which is a well known symptom for men. I am sure it depends upon the person. But below is some interesting information I found about women having a heart attack. I will provide link below with more information also.

Female Heart Attack Symptoms: What are They?

These chest-related heart attack signs often appear in men, and many women get them, too:

Pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain in the center of the chest, which may spread to the neck, shoulder or jaw;

Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath;

But many women don’t have chest pain.

In the Circulation study on early female heart attack symptoms, researchers found that during a heart attack, 43% of the 515 women studied had no “acute chest pain… a ‘hallmark symptom in men,’” according to study authors.

Nevertheless, the study cited evidence that many emergency room doctors still look mainly for chest pain. Only a minority check for the other types of symptoms that women tend to develop. As a result, doctors may miss heart attacks in women.

“Although women can have chest tightness as a symptom of a heart attack, it’s also important for women to recognize that might not be their symptom,” says Nieca Goldberg, MD, a cardiologist and chief of Women’s Cardiac Care at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and author of “The Women’s Healthy Heart Program.”

“Women commonly have symptoms of shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue, or pressure in the lower chest, so they easily mistake it as a stomach ailment.”

In the Circulation study, common female heart attack symptoms include:

shortness of breath (57.9%)
weakness (54.8%)
unusual fatigue (42.9%)

Women also had these symptoms:
Nausea
Dizziness
Lower chest discomfort
Upper abdominal pressure or discomfort that may feel like indigestion
Back pain

Female Heart Attack Symptoms: Warning Signs That a Heart Attack May Be Coming:

In the weeks preceding an actual heart attack, some of these symptoms may even appear as “prodromal,” or early, warning signs, according to the Circulation study.

Goldberg, who is familiar with the study, says, “About six weeks before the actual heart attack, women were more likely to experience shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue or stomach pain as an early warning sign that they might have a blocked artery.”

Click this link for more info:

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/her-guide-to-a-heart-attack?page=2

Q: Why doesn’t the media portray women having heart attacks?
I realized that the media (movies, tv shows, etc) always depict men having heart attacks, never women. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, don’t you think there would be more light shed on this subject?

A: Probably because men are still at much higher risk of heart disease than women. (It is the #1 cause of death in men too.) Since men tend to be younger than women when they develop heart disease, when the rates are adjusted for age (as any good statistician should do), the risk is higher for them.

Q: How is a heart attack better than having a baby?
[ Serious as well as minor side effects have been reported with the use of oral contraceptives. Serious risks, which can be life threatening, include blood clots, stroke and heart attacks. Some women should not use the Pill, including women who have blood clots, certain cancers, a history of heart attack or stroke, as well as those who are or may be pregnant. The Pill does not protect against HIV or sexually transmitted diseases. ]

First question: don’t people realize that pills are actually usually more life threatening than condoms?

Second: They don’t actually offer any sexual protection at all, and completely open up your immune system. Why not an abortion instead? It’s SAFER!

Third: Some brands are known to cause CANCER. How is cancer better than having a baby?

Fourth: What is so bad about periods that you would rather have blood clots than a normal cycle?
I was being sarcastic with the “Safer” thing.
I would worry more about hamburgers, but even children understand that hamburgers are bad for you. Most women ignore the side effects of a pill.

A: This question is so full of crazy I don’t even know where to start. For one thing, you are much, much more likely to die from complications of pregnancy than hormonal birth control.

Furthermore, hormonal birth control does not cause cancer. In fact, it is linked to an overall *lower* risk of cancer. Oral contraceptives have been proven to reduce rates of endometrial and ovarian cancer by 50% or more. This benefit increases with duration of use and persists for up to 20 years after oral contraceptives are stopped.

Hormonal birth control has no effect on the immune system.

It is true that condoms have less risk of serious side-effects, but they are also less effective at preventing pregnancy.

Q: For heart attacks and women, does heartburn start off mild and comes and goes, or is it strong and sudden?
Some women don’t get heartburn when it comes to heart attacks. I’m talking about the ones that do.

A: Common signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:
Pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain in the center of your chest that lasts for more than a few minutes
Pain extending beyond your chest to your shoulder, arm, back, or even to your teeth and jaw
Increasing episodes of chest pain
Prolonged pain in the upper abdomen
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Impending sense of doom
Fainting
Nausea and vomiting
Signs and symptoms of a heart attack in women may be different or less noticeable than heart attack symptoms in men. In addition to the symptoms above, heart attack symptoms in women can include:
Abdominal pain or “heartburn”
Clammy skin
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Unusual or unexplained fatigue
Not all people who have heart attacks experience the same ones or experience them to the same degree. Many heart attacks aren’t as dramatic as the ones you’ve seen on TV. Some people have no symptoms at all. Still, the more signs and symptoms you have, the greater the likelihood that you may be having a heart attack.
A heart attack can occur anytime — at work or play, while you’re resting, or while you’re in motion. Some heart attacks strike suddenly, but many people who experience a heart attack have warning signs and symptoms hours, days or weeks in advance. The earliest predictor of an attack may be recurrent chest pain (angina) that’s triggered by exertion and relieved by rest. Angina is caused by temporary, insufficient blood flow to the heart, also known as “cardiac ischemia.”

Q: what are the signs of stroke and heart attack in women?

A: In women a heart attack or MI (Myocardio Infarction) is manifested by epigastric pain or heartburn-like discomfort or the typical elephant sitting on the chest-like feeling, chest pressure, pain that radiates to the left arm and back.
Stroke or CVA (Cardio Vascular Accident) is manifested by lightheadness or severe headache, weakness on one side of the body, facial muscle twitching, sudden inability to speak or swallow, slurred speech, dizziness, syncope, visual disturbances.

Q: Any other women <50 who have had a heart attack?
10 days ago, I had a major heart attack and now have two stents. I would be very interested in hearing from other women <50 who have had a heart attack regarding your recovery...how long it took, how you feel now, etc

A: I had a heart attack at 27 and I am now 33. The total recovery took about a year (the have my full energy and all back). I went back to work after 6 months. I feel great now…off of all meds. I eat healthy and exercise. I wish you a very speedy recovery. You have to keep your head up and always, always think positive. The depression of having the heart attack can be just as hard on you as the actual heart attack.

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