Heart attack signs women miss
As a cardiologist, I have plenty of female patients who I see after they’ve already had a heart attack. And too often I hear, “It just didn’t feel like I was having a heart attack.” I ask them what they thought a heart attack should “feel” like, and they describe symptoms typical of a heart attack in men — chest pain, shortness of breath, pain radiating down the left arm.
Heart disease is the leading killer among both men and women in the U.S. And unfortunately for the hundreds of thousands of women that die each year from heart disease, the symptoms of a heart attack may present differently in women than in men. So it’s important to understand what symptoms to watch out for, especially during Heart Month.
Female patients should be aware of the following possible symptoms of a heart attack:
- Shortness of breath, weakness, sweating or nausea/indigestion
- Pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain in the center of the chest, which may spread to the neck, shoulder or jaw
Women also may experience early symptoms, up to a month before a heart attack. These can include:
- Unusual fatigue
- Indigestion
- Anxiety
- Sleep disturbances
Understandably, it’s easy to misread these as symptoms of other conditions, but that’s why it’s important to have routine cholesterol and blood pressure checks. Be aware of your family history, and know that certain bad habits like smoking can dramatically increase your risk for a heart attack.
Dear Dr Robert Koch, I’ve been seen by my primary care physicians for chest pain shortness of breath pain in my left arm heart palpitation sweating at night indigestion all that comes and goes.I was referred to a cardiologist that perform a echo test ekg and stress test.I got the results they told me it was muscle related they told me it was nothing wrong with my heart but yet I keep having symptomsI’m not happy with the results and uncomfortable. I would like to get a second opinion any suggestions? Where are you located? I’m praying that they are correct but I just want to make sure. I have high cholesterol and my grandmother also have heart issues so that’s why I’m being very cautious.
Today, I went to the beach front with my children. I
found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old
daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but
I had to tell someone!