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Heart Attack Symptoms In Women: Are they Different?
Chest pain is still the most common sign of a heart attack for most women, although studies have shown that women are more likely than men to have symptoms other than chest pain or discomfort when experiencing a heart attack or other form of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to an article "Symptom Presentation of Women With Acute Coronary Syndromes ? Myth vs. Reality" published online Dec. 10 in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The study was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.
Researchers examined 35 years of research that yielded 69 studies 69 studies and found that, depending on the size of the study (which ranged from large trials to single centers and interviews), between 30 percent and 37 percent of women did not have chest discomfort during a heart attack. In contrast, 17 percent to 27 percent of men did not experience chest discomfort. Overall, the majority of women ? and men ? in the reviewed studies had chest discomfort with heart attack (two-thirds to three-quarters, depending on study size).
Study authors also found that older people are more likely to have heart attack without chest discomfort. However, because women are on average nearly a decade older than men at the time of their initial heart attack, the researchers call for more studies to determine the degree to which gender independently influences heart attack symptoms.
They conclude that current research does not indicate a need to differentiate heart attack symptoms in women from those in men, and public health messages should continue to emphasize chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, and other common signs of heart attack. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among U.S. women, and affects one in 10 women over the age of 18.
The authors also report that women are more likely than men to experience other forms of cardiac chest pain syndromes, such as unstable angina, and they appear to report a wider range of symptoms associated with ACS. For example, women are more likely to report pain in the middle or upper back, neck, or jaw; shortness of breath; nausea or vomiting; indigestion; loss of appetite; weakness or fatigue; cough; dizziness; and palpitations.
Absence of chest discomfort is a strong predictor for missed diagnosis and treatment delays. Noting that many studies exclude patients who do not report chest pain, the researchers call for additional research from well-designed studies to further investigate gender differences in heart attack symptoms. This includes expanding symptom definitions and greater standardization in data collection and reporting of women's symptoms.?
If you aren't sure whether you are having heartburn or something more serious -- like a heart attack -- you should get checked out, say experts at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The most common symptom of coronary heart disease is chest pain (angina) or discomfort, which can also occur in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back. People may mistake this pain for indigestion, which can be dangerous.
"Sometimes, it's impossible to tell the difference between the symptoms of heartburn, angina and heart attack," Prediman K. Shah, director of the Division of Cardiology and the Atherosclerosis Research Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said in a prepared statement.
A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped. This can result in death or disability, depending on how much of the heart muscle is damaged.
Unfortunately, many people may not be aware they are having a heart attack.
"There are some useful pointers that might help a person know whether they're having a heart attack or not, but when in doubt, check it out," said Shah.
Heart attack symptoms include the sudden onset of tightness, pressure, squeezing, burning or discomfort in the chest, throat, neck or either arm. When these symptoms are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, shortness of breath or a fainting sensation, Shah says you should be especially suspicious that you might be having a heart attack.
People who have any risk factors that may predispose them to a heart attack should be particularly cautious.
"If you smoke, have diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, are overweight or have a strong family history of heart disease and have any symptom related to the chest or heart, you should be suspicious," said Shah.
So, what should you do if you are having symptoms you think may be a heart attack?
"Generally, we recommend that if you think you''re having a heart attack, call 911," said Shah. "It''s the safest thing to do. We tell people to err on the side of caution and overreact instead of under-react.
More People Die Of Heart Attacks During Months Of November Thru January
Recent studies at various Universities across the country report that 53% more heart attacks occur in the winter than summer. January was the leader with twice as many heart attacks per day than July, the safest month. And winter heart attacks tended to be more serious with a 9% fatality rate. Researchers from the HolisticHealthFoundation.com suggest that winter heart attacks produce more damage to cardiac muscle than those in any other season. Torchia says, " there are many reasons as to why this could happen."
Understaffing at hospitals: Duke University researchers studied heart attack patients admitted to the hospital during the holidays. They found that these patients received fewer life-saving medications and procedures than patients admitted at other times of the year. They also died more often. The researchers believed that at least one of the causes was reduced hospital staffing during the holidays. Torchia cites other reasons, listed below:
* Cold temperatures. People with coronary artery disease can suffer chest pain when exposed to the cold. Hypothermia (a body temperature that is below normal) can cause heart failure and death. Wind can be especially dangerous, removing the layer of heated air that surrounds the body.
* Snow. The amount of snow - as well as the physical stress of shoveling it - is linked to more heart attack deaths than the temperature. Damp weather causes the body to lose heat faster than it would at the same temperature in drier conditions.
* Alcohol. Drinking alcoholic beverages before going out in the cold can give you a feeling of warmth, but the alcohol actually draws heat away from your body's vital organs. Alcohol, cold weather and outdoor activity don't mix. These conditions increase your chances for hypothermia.
* LDL (bad cholesterol) levels peak in December and January. High cholesterol is a major cause of heart disease.
* The holiday season. Holiday stress can cause chest pain and trigger heart attacks. So can excess eating and drinking, as well as the associated weight gain.
* Colds, flu and other infections. One study showed that a person's heart attack risk triples in the 10 days following these types of illnesses.
Torchia gives some ways to avoid heart attacks:
* Get a flu shot. Studies show that if you've had a heart attack in the past, a flu shot can reduce your risk of a second heart attack by 67 percent.
* Be careful outdoors. Check with your doctor before shoveling snow, and don't overdo it when outdoors. Your body has to work extra hard just to stay warm.
* Follow heart-healthy habits. Exercise, eat right and don't smoke. It's OK to enjoy your holiday meal, but try not to overindulge.
* Know the warning signs of a heart attack.
o Discomfort or pain in the chest, possibly going into the neck, back, jaw, arms or shoulders.
o Numbness or tingling in one or both arms.
o Nausea or vomiting.
o Extreme fatigue.
o Shortness of breath.
o Indigestion or heartburn.
o Sweating.
o Dizziness, weakness or passing out.
Don't wait:
If you experience any these symptoms, call 911 immediately. There are drugs that can save your life, but you need to take them within an hour of first noticing symptoms. Unfortunately, most people wait at least two hours before seeking help, which can lead to severe heart damage or death .
