This Surprising Symptom of a Heart Attack in Women Should Not Be Ignored
What comes to mind when you picture someone
having a heart attack? You're probably inclined to imagine them doubled
over with severe chest pain. While this may be one of the symptoms of a
heart attack (alongside many others - these symptoms will help you
recognize a heart attack months in advance), symptoms of a heart attack
in women can actually be a lot more subtle than they are in men.
The Facts: The American Heart Association found that with regard to
heart attacks, women are being under-treated. In fact, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, statistics show that 50,000
women died from a heart attack in 2014. It is also estimated that around
735,000 Americans have heart attacks each year.
So how do heart attack symptoms in women
differ from men? A woman may experience pressure or pain in the center
of her chest, but while having a heart attack, she may also experience
jaw pain. Other symptoms specific to women include upper back pain, arm
pain, an overwhelming sense of fatigue, heartburn, or a sense of not
feeling right. But how can jaw pain relate to symptoms of a heart
attack? According to the American Heart Association, if the heart does
not give out a good signal, pain can radiate to the jaw, neck or back.
However, it is still unclear why jaw pain and upper body discomfort
manifest as symptoms in women and not men.
Another question that needs answering is
why women aren't getting the treatment they need. The AHA have reported
that women generally wait around 54 hours before visiting a doctor,
while men wait about 16 hours. It may be because women are more passive
about their health than men. It may also be because they have more
barriers preventing them from doing so, such as having children to take
care of.
However, waiting too long to seek treatment may also result in
developing cardiogenic shock, meaning that your heart won't be able to
pump enough blood. As a result, waiting too long could also mean that
aggressive treatments may no longer be an option. Furthermore, women
need to keep an eye out for recurrent symptoms. Statistics show that
having another heart attack is actually higher among women than it is in
men.