Heart attack symptoms in women are not always the same as that in men. Studies have been made to determine the difference of the condition between both genders. This is due to the many wrong diagnosis that have been reported of the condition in women. Heart attack happens because the heart muscle does not get enough nutrients and oxygen it needs from the blood due to the artery delivering blood to the heart muscle, or myocardium, being completely blocked. This is usually caused by the accumulation of fatty deposits within the arterial walls called plaque.
Heart attack symptoms in women are hard to determine even to medical professionals. This is because women may suffer the same symptoms experienced by men, but is different the other way around. Nonetheless, the following are the symptoms that are experienced by both men and women: pressure and pain in the chest; sweating; shortness of breath; dizziness; pain that spreads to the neck, shoulders, or arm; heartburn or feeling of indigestion; nausea; and vomiting.
Chest pain is one of the determining signs of heart attack, but this may not be the case in women. In about half of women experiencing a heart attack, this symptom did not show. Despite this being the number one indication of the condition, many doctors still misdiagnose their female patients that experience shoulder and neck pain with unusual fatigue or indigestion.
Unusual fatigue is a heart attack symptom in women that happens in 7 out of 10 cases prior to a heart attack. Difficulty sleeping is also a major symptom happening in 47 percent of women. Shortness of breath, which is experienced in 42 percent of the cases, may also be a warning sign that a woman is about to experience a heart attack.
Indigestion is a misdiagnosis that occurs in 39 percent of heart attack cases in women. Anxiety is also a symptom that may need immediate medical assistance, occurring in 35 percent of heart attack cases in women.
Heart attack symptoms in women may be reduced by avoiding foods containing high amounts of fat, you could prevent the accumulation of fatty deposits that may result in plaque. You may also take regular exercise to improve the health of your heart muscle.
Those that are obese or have diabetes are more likely to experience the condition so you should consistently have yourself checked by your doctor. Because the heart attack symptoms in women are different from those in men, these should be consulted immediately to an experienced doctor to prevent the event of a misdiagnosis.