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
Breath short 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 sudden severe digestive disorders
Suddenly sweating for no apparent reason
Extreme fatigue for no apparent reason
Loss of consciousness or fainting, and
Feeling suddenly 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.
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
Breath short 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 sudden severe digestive disorders
Suddenly sweating for no apparent reason
Extreme fatigue for no apparent reason
Loss of consciousness or fainting, and
Feeling suddenly 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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