Knowing The Symptoms Of Heart Attack In Women Before It Is Too LateHeart attack is one of the most prominent killers of the human race in our times, and the medical world is still fighting with ways and means to nip this problem in the bud. But even then, millions of people worldwide are succumbing each year to heart attacks. The situation is graver for females because the symptoms of heart attack in women are way too different from the popular heart attack symptoms in men. There are many cases where women who have had a genuine heart attack have been misdiagnosed and sent home saying that they have had some gastrointestinal upset! The commonly understood symptoms of heart attack are pain in the chest region that can spread to the neck, shoulders and the jaw, profuse sweating, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting and an extreme feeling of discomfort in the chest. These are the symptoms that are generally observed in men. Since all these symptoms are too visible, heart attack in men can be diagnosed easily. But heart attack in women is so mild that most doctors do not even understand it is a heart attack until it is too late. There are some cases in which women have had heart attacks preceded by the typical chest congestion and chest pain symptoms that are so prominent in men, but these have been the exceptions rather than the rule. By and large, women might have a stifling sensation in their chest, and even a feeling of tightness in the chest, but it is very uncommon that they will get the typical chest pain followed by the gasping and extreme sweating symptoms. In about 43% of the women who get heart attacks, there is absolutely no early indication in the chest. That is the reason they - and even the doctors - cannot make out it is a heart attack they have experienced. It is important that women get educated on the symptoms of heart attack that they might face. Here is a list of the symptoms of heart attack in women:- 1. The most prominent of women's heart attack symptoms is shortness of breath without any chest congestion feeling. About 57.9% women have this as an early symptom of an impending heart attack. 2. Heart attack in women comes after a general feeling of weakness that can last for even a few days before the heart attack actually happens. This is also one of the most common heart attack symptoms in women, which occurs in about 54.8% of the women suffering a seizure. 3. About 42.9% of women who have had a heart attack complain of an unexplained sensation of fatigue, which occurs even though they have not indulged in any specific laborious activity. 4. Nausea is also common among the heart attack symptoms in women. However, it may not be accompanied by actual vomiting. Nevertheless, it is because of the nausea that most cases of heart attack in women are misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal illnesses. The nausea is generally accompanied by dizziness. 5. Women who have had heart attacks will have complained of discomfort in the lower chest region, closer to the abdomen, or a discomfort in the upper portion of the abdomen. They will rarely have problems in the upper chest region, which is actually associated with heart attack in men. 6. Back pain is also a very common heart attack symptom in women. Hence, it can be clearly seen how all of these heart attack symptoms in women are misleading. It is important that women get aware of these symptoms and take care of their cardiac health regularly. Checkups must be done after women have crossed the age of 20 years. Only regular care can ensure good heart health in women. |