Share this with the women in your life - Signs of Heart Attack

[Kathy R]

I've read the symptoms for Male Heart Attack and they aren't all that different from those listed below for Women. Still, women seem to be missing the warnings at a higher rate than men? Either that or they are simply ignoring them more so than men?

 

 

If you have any of these warning signs, call 911.

 

Shortness of breath. During a heart attack, or in some cases, days or even weeks preceding the attack, many women report gasping as if they’d just run a marathon or having trouble talking, one study reported.

 

Non-chest pain. Instead of an explosive pain in the chest, women may develop less severe pain in the upper back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or arm. Get immediate medical help if you have any unusual symptom above the waist, even if it’s not in your chest.

 

Unusual fatigue. In one study of female heart attack survivors, 71 percent experienced unusual fatigue in the days and weeks before the attack—often so extreme that the women were too fatigued to make their bed, lift a laptop, or walk to the mailbox.

 

Heavy sweating. Women may be suddenly drenched with sweat for no apparent reason. Frequently, women feel both hot and chilled, with clammy skin, during a heart attack. This symptom can be easily confused with a hot flash. Scary.

 

Nausea or dizziness. During an attack, women frequently vomit or feel like they’re going to faint. The nausea can also feel like heartburn.

 

Anxiety. Many women experience a feeling of impending doom or intense fear before or during a heart attack. Heeding that inner warning can be lifesaving.

 

 

[mackerman]

I'll second the information shown above, if nothing else to get peoples attention to the updated post!

 

Please pay special attention to the following symptoms:

 

Jaw and/or neck pain - think stiff neck or new onset of TMJ pain.

Sudden onset of fatigue - if she starts or has been complaining of running out of energy, it's time for the ER.

 

Lifestyle choices are important too - smokers (first or second hand); being overweight and diabetes are all factors that increase everyone's chances of heart attacks.

 

Just sayin,

 

Mark Ackerman

Paramedic

Currently on our second annual cross country road trip!

'07GT

[TeSmSp]

I feel at least one of those symptoms every Monday before I go to work.

[Chris K]

This is very timely as my mother in law just suffered a heart attack a couple of weeks ago. Her symptoms were fatigue for a couple of days and her shoulder muscles feeling sore. She had triple bypass surgery 3 days later and is doing well in her recovery.

[Mike]

Thanks for sharing this, Kathy.

 

Another important thing to do for anyone who suspects a heart attack: Call 9-1-1 and immediate chew and swallow an aspirin. Doing this gets the aspirin into your bloodstream within a matter of minutes and can help inhibit the development of the blood clot.

[EffBee]

Thanks, Kathy. Sharing it with Penny tonight.

[One]

Thank you Kathy; Aline, my wife of 30 years, saved my life already only because she knew how to read the sympthoms and took immediate action - information is the key.

 

 

 

 

Juan

[beemerman2k]

Of course, I am still fuming over the loss of my younger brother to a heart attack. He was in top condition! No fat, all muscle, and was a nationally ranked tennis player. Collapsed in the middle of a tennis game in May, just a few months ago at the age of 49! He used to argue, "why not plan to live to be 100?", yet he didn't even make it to 50.

 

I remember seeing the movie, "Heaven Can Wait", when I was a teenager. In that film, a NFL quarterback is mistakenly killed by his guardian angel who thought it was his time. So the quarterback protests so much that the other angels have to figure out a way to get him his life back. This is exactly how I feel about my brother. If there was an agency I could file a complaint with, they'd be hearing from me every day all day.

 

OK, my point is simply this: don't get nice and comfy thinking that you don't fall into any of the traditional categories and are therefore safe from any heart ailments. See a doctor, get yourself routinely checked. Know how your blood pressure is doing. Consider a daily regimen of aspirin to prevent clotting. If my brother, who himself was a physician and in top shape, could fall victim to this condition, so can the rest of us.

[Mike]

about women and heart attacks. Worth sharing with the women in your life!