A recent American Heart Association survey showed that 47 percent of women would not call 911 right away if they experienced heart attack symptoms. This isn’t surprising. Women often fulfill a caretaker role – putting everyone else’s needs first.
However, a woman’s heart health should be a top concern. Cardiovascular disease, which includes both heart attack and stroke, is the leading killer in the U.S. Pressure in the chest, brought on by activity or stress, is a major symptom. If these symptoms wake you up at night or happens at rest, that’s a really bad sign, but often heart disease is silent.
Heart Attacks Can Happen Without Major Blockages
The majority of people who suffer heart attacks have blockages of 50 percent or less. These blockages wouldn’t show up in a stress test. Small plaques that do not limit blood flow to the heart can rupture and cause a heart attack. Stress tests look for a 70 percent blockage or higher within a heart artery.
Generally, it’s best to focus on modifying your risk factors for heart disease, like watching your weight, exercising, eating right, not smoking, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.
Stress management is important, too. To reduce your stress levels, utilize methods such as meditation, yoga and relaxation techniques.
Women’s Symptoms May Differ From Men’s
The classic heart attack symptom is described as feeling a huge weight on your chest. Yet women’s symptoms often differ from men’s. Women may have more subtle symptoms prior to a cardiovascular event, such as increasing fatigue or insomnia.
Other signs may include:
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the chest or shoulder that lasts or comes and goes.
- Pain or discomfort in the arm, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
- Shortness of breath.
Risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, smoking and a family history of coronary heart disease.
Pregnancy complications like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension may help physicians identify women who are at future risk for a cardiovascular event.
