Symptoms of heart disease
are not always the same in women and men. If it is not recognized by women and
their doctors, this difference can endanger women who have heart disease.
In standard cardiology
textbooks, most of the discussion is for the description of symptoms that
commonly occur if a person has heart disease. In most cases, this
"general" symptom turns out to be a description of the symptoms
commonly experienced by men.
However, although many
medical textbooks may find symptoms of heart disease in women including
"infrequent", in fact there are more women who die of heart disease
than men today. So maybe the more statistically correct is the symptom of heart
disease in men who can actually be called "rare".
If you are a woman, who
has symptoms that may be related to heart disease, you should visit a doctor.
The following are some ways to distinguish symptoms in men and women.
Angina
Angina is not always the
same as chest pain in women. Angina is usually described as depressed chest
pain that may spread to the jaw or shoulder, and in men these symptoms are
usually the same. However, many women with angina will report a hot or burning
sensation, or soft to the touch, which may occur on their back, shoulders,
arms, or jaw. Plus, they often don't experience chest problems at all, so they
will rarely suspect heart disease as a cause.
Careful doctors will
think about the possibility of angina in each patient (male or female) which
describes discomfort anywhere above the waist, which appears during heavy
activity.
However, because too many
doctors continue to believe that coronary artery disease is rare in women, they
may regard the symptoms as muscle and bone pain, or digestive problems, or even
emotional disorders.
Moreover, women are far
more susceptible to angina than men when their coronary arteries actually
appear "normal" during cardiac catheterization. They are often told
that their symptoms are only caused by a gastrointestinal disorder (or worse,
that their symptoms are only in the mind), while in reality they have
significant heart problems.
Heart attack
Heart attacks and acute
coronary syndromes may also be different in women than men. Usually, women who
have a heart attack will experience nausea, vomiting, indigestion, shortness of
breath, or just suddenly and extreme fatigue - but don't experience chest pain.
Unfortunately, doctors
easily associate these symptoms with other diseases. Women are also more prone
to stealthy myocardial infarction - that is, a heart attack without acute
symptoms at all, which is only diagnosed if the next heart attack symptom
appears.
Time to look for medical help
Because the symptoms of a
heart attack in women may not be the same as those written in the book, how do
you know that you need medical help for symptoms that might be related to your
heart? The rules you must follow are very simple - if you think the symptoms
are related to the heart, visit a doctor.
Go to a doctor or emergency room as soon as possible if you experience the following symptoms:
•
Pain, pressure, heat or pressure on the chest, jaw,
shoulders, back, or arms, lasting 5-10 minutes
•
Short breath for no reason for 5-10 minutes
•
Irregular heartbeat accompanied by dizziness
Quickly ask to be taken to the hospital if you experience symptoms:
•
Short breath for no more than 5-10 minutes
•
Nausea, vomiting, or severe sudden digestive disorders
•
Sudden sweating for no apparent reason
•
Extreme fatigue for no apparent reason
•
Loss of consciousness or fainting, and
•
Feel very sudden panic without cause
Again, the key is
listening to your body, and following your instincts. If you experience
symptoms that interfere in any way, which may even be related to the heart,
consult a doctor.
If the doctor ignores
you, this is a reflection on the doctor, not you, and is a sign that this is
the time to find a new doctor, who will do everything necessary to find the
cause of your symptoms.
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