What does women’s heart attack feel like? What are the first signs of heart attack in women? How do I know if I’m having mini heart attacks?
Heart attacks are ranked the number 3 killer in Singapore and can strike both men and women.
But did you know that women experience symptoms which are not so classical as compared to men and might even miss some “silent symptoms”?
theAsianparent spoke to Dr Kenneth Ng, a Cardiologist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital to learn more about the symptoms of heart attack in women.
Signs of Heart Attack in Woman
First off, Dr Ng explains that when it comes to heart attacks, women do not always get the classical central crushing chest pain as men do, but instead may feel:
- Breathless or shortness of breath
- Dizzy or lightheaded
- Cold sweat
- Unusual fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Gastric discomfort
- Pain in one or both arms
- Pain in the neck, jaw, shoulders, upper back or abdomen
How do I know if I’m having mini heart attacks?
Mini heart attacks, also known as silent heart attacks, may exhibit mild symptoms or none at all. Common signs include fatigue, mild chest discomfort, and shortness of breath. However, these symptoms can be easily overlooked or attributed to other causes.
“Silent heart attacks may also be more common in women. Women also seem to have less severe disease-causing symptoms as well as vasospasm in which there are no obvious coronary lesions.
Women also have a higher rate of false-positive stress tests for heart disease which makes preventative testing more difficult as the accuracy is lower”, he says.
Regular check-ups, monitoring risk factors, and seeking medical advice for persistent symptoms are essential in detecting and preventing mini heart attacks.
Heart Attack Risk Factors for Women
Image source: iStock
According to Dr Ng, although women and men are at the same risk of getting heart disease, the only difference is that men’s risk of heart disease starts to rise once they hit 50 years old whilst women’s risk of heart disease only rises 10 years after menopause (i.e around 60 years old).
“Before menopause, women are well protected against heart disease by estrogen. The problem is that when you have a heart attack at an older age, then your risk of complications will be higher”, he explains.
Women who develop hypertension during pregnancy also have twice the risk of getting a stroke and are four times higher risk of developing hypertension later in life.
Besides pregnancy complications and menopause being risk factors for women developing heart disease, there are some factors that actually put women at greater risk than men, such as stress, depression, diabetes, inactivity and smoking.
Diagnosing Heart Attack in Women
How can I test myself for a heart attack?
While there isn’t a self-administered test for a heart attack, recognising potential symptoms is crucial. If you experience chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, or discomfort in the upper body, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
Diagnostic tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) and blood tests, are performed by healthcare professionals to confirm a heart attack.
Gender-Specific Tests to Detect a Heart Attack in Women
In a traditional diagnosis of heart attack for both men and women, it has been discovered that this method could actually miss detecting some women who have had an attack due to their lower levels of troponin I proteins in the blood.
When a heart attack strikes and causes damage to the heart muscle, these troponins I proteins are released in the blood — and the amount of such proteins released depends on the amount of damage to the heart.
The average level of troponin I for men is 1230 whereas for women is 50ng/L., so women who had heart attacks tend to have a lower troponin I level.
By using a gender-specific test with a cut-off of 16ng/L, the percentage of women who were diagnosed with a heart attack was 22% versus only 16% when using the generic cut-off of 26ng/L.
Dr Ng explains that by diagnosing more women with heart attacks, they will receive the appropriate treatment faster and expeditiously, so as to prevent complications and to promote recovery.
“If the diagnosis was missed, then the severe consequence will result. Hopefully, by using a lower cut-off, more women will be diagnosed and can get the appropriate treatment quickly, which will lead to better outcomes”, he says.
These gender-specific tests are available at most hospitals and specialist clinics in Singapore and can be done in conjunction with symptoms and a suspicion of a heart attack.
Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest: What’s the Difference?
(Information contributed by Dr Rohit Khurana, Cardiologist at Gleneagles Hospital)
What To Do When You Recognise the Signs
You think you’re having a heart attack. What now?
Women generally tend to delay seeking medical treatment, so if you have experienced any of the symptoms of a heart attack, you should seek help immediately.
Do not drive to the clinic or hospital yourself, but get a family member or friend to help send you there — although it is also advisable to call for an ambulance instead.
Remember not to brush off or ignore the symptoms because you never know if you could have just suffered a heart attack without even realising it.
Scared of Getting a Heart Attack? Take Care of Yourself
Preventing heart disease is doable, so here’s the lowdown:
- Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to learn about your heart disease risk.
- Kick the smoking habit. Quitting for just a year slashes your coronary heart disease risk by half.
- Aim for 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic activity (think brisk walks) or 75 minutes of intense aerobic action (like jogging), or mix it up. Throw in some muscle-strengthening moves at least twice a week for good measure.
- Tweak your family’s diet if needed. Avoid binge eating and stay away from fatty foods.
Even when the signs are subtle, the consequences can be fatal or life-changing, especially if you don’t get help right away.
So, ladies, mums, remember that your health is very important. Your kids and your family are counting on you to be alive. If you have experienced any of the signs mentioned above, or you think you’re at risk for heart disease, do not hesitate to reach out to your doctor.
Image Source: iStock
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