Heart attack symptoms in women

By Wendy Slinger in In the news on Monday, July 6, 2009 @ 10:16

Womens' Heart Attack Symptoms are Different from Mens'...

Having lost my father at an early age, I’ve been aware of a history of heart attacks within my family.  However, it has taken a recent diagnosis of a congenital heart disorder of my female cousin (who is a similar age to myself) for me to sit up and finally do some reading on the subject.

Having researched cardiovascular disease in women, I have discovered that the symptoms and tell-tale signs which indicate a cause for concern are often quite different to those of men. 

For example:-

· Dizziness - unexplained light headedness

· Unusual fatigue

· Sleep disturbance

· Anxiety - unusual nervousness, feelings of impending doom.

· Oedema - fluid retention and swelling usually of the ankles or lower legs

· Nausea - gastric upset.

· Breathlessness and/or inability to catch your breath when waking up

· Fluttering - rapid heartbeats, palpitations

Research by the National Institute of Health (NIH) indicates that women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks.

What shocked me the most was that many women never had chest pains and this, I thought, was the most indicative sign of a heart attack!  Fewer than 30% reported having chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks and 43% reported having no chest pain during any phase of their attack.  Most GP’s however, continue to consider chest pain as the most important heart attack symptom.

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in women and it is also the most preventable. Women should pay particular attention to these differing symptoms and seek immediate advice from their GP or healthcare professional if they are experiencing any or a number of these symptoms.