How long can a woman have symptoms before a heart attack?
Knowing the symptoms and hazards that are specific to women,
as well as maintaining a heart-healthy diet and exercising regularly, can help
you stay protected.
Some people believe that heart disease affects men more than
women. In the United States, however, it is the leading cause of mortality for
both men and women. Women may not know what to look for because some heart
disease symptoms differ from those in men.
What
are some symptoms of a heart attack in a woman?
The most common sign of a heart attack in women is the same as it is in men: chest pain, pressure, or discomfort that lasts longer than a few minutes or comes and goes.
However, especially in women, chest pain is not usually severe or even the most visible symptom. Heart attack pain is frequently described by women as pressure or tightness. A heart attack can sometimes occur without the presence of chest discomfort.
Women are more likely than men to experience symptoms of a
heart attack that aren't related to chest pain, such as:
- Discomfort in the neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back, or upper abdomen
- Breathing problems
- One or both arms pain
- Vomiting or nausea
- Sweating
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Unusual exhaustion
- indigestion (indigestion)
These signs and symptoms may be less obvious than the
crushing chest pain that is commonly linked with heart attacks. This could be
because women are more likely to have blockages in their smaller arteries that
carry blood to the heart, a condition known as small vessel heart disease or coronary
microvascular disease.
Women, in comparison to males, experience symptoms more
frequently while resting or even asleep. Emotional stress may contribute to the
onset of heart attack symptoms in women.
Although women's heart attack symptoms differ from men's,
they may be identified with heart disease less frequently than males. With no
serious arterial blockage, women are more likely than males to have a heart
attack (nonobstructive coronary artery disease).
When
should you see a doctor?
If you're suffering or suspect you're having a heart attack,
get emergency medical attention right once. Unless you have no other options, don't
drive yourself to the emergency room.
What
are risk factors for women?
Traditional coronary artery disease risk factors, such as
high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity, impact both men and women.
Other factors, however, may have a greater impact on the development of heart
disease in women.
Women's heart disease risk factors include:
Diabetes. Women
with diabetes are more likely than males with diabetes to develop cardiac
disease. Furthermore, because diabetes can alter how women perceive pain, there
is an increased risk of a silent heart attack – one that occurs without symptoms.
Depression
and emotional stress. Women's hearts are more affected by stress and
depression than men's. Depression can make it difficult to maintain a healthy
lifestyle and adhere to treatment recommendations for other illnesses.
Smoking. In
women, smoking is a larger risk factor for heart disease than in men.
Inactivity.
Physical inactivity is a significant risk factor for heart disease.
Menopause. After
menopause, low estrogen levels raise the risk of illness in smaller blood
arteries.
Complications
of pregnancy High blood pressure or diabetes during
pregnancy can put the mother at risk for high blood pressure and diabetes later
in life. Women are also more prone to develop heart disease as a result of
these diseases.
Early
heart disease runs in the family. This appears to be a risk
factor that is more prevalent in women than in men.
Inflammatory
disease. Heart disease is linked to rheumatoid arthritis, lupus,
and other inflammatory disorders in both men and women.
Women of all ages should be concerned about heart disease.
Women under 65, particularly those with a family history of heart disease,
should be aware of heart disease risk factors.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: Heart Attack Symptoms in Men
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