Some things women must know about heart attacks/system a minute story
Despite the progress of medicine, the many developments in the field and the accumulated knowledge - heart attacks remain the leading health concern in the world.
The key to effective and life-saving treatment lies in understanding the symptoms of heart problems.
But the symptoms experienced by men are different from those experienced by women in these situations.
Heart attack symptoms in women
Women may experience different and more subtle symptoms than men, which can sometimes lead to delays in seeking treatment.
Female symptoms include:
Non-chest pains:
Unlike men, women do not always have chest pains.
They may experience discomfort in the neck, back, jaw or shoulders more often.
Shortness of breath:
Women may feel short of breath for no apparent reason, even without chest pain.
Nausea and vomiting:
These symptoms are more common in women than in men during a heart attack.
Unusual fatigue:
extreme fatigue not caused by exertion, often appearing suddenly.
Dizziness:
Women may report feeling faint or dizzy during a heart attack.
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tend to ignore the symptoms.
Women experiencing a heart attack/ShutterStock
A study from 2003 indicates that about 80% of women who have had a heart attack, experienced one symptom at least four weeks before the event.
However, women are more likely to ignore these signs and mistakenly think that they are other health phenomena that are not life-threatening such as the flu, stress or anxiety.
Heart attack symptoms in men
Men usually experience what are considered classic heart attack symptoms.
These include:
Chest pain:
Often described as pressure or discomfort in the chest.
Discomfort in the upper body:
pain may spread to the jaw, neck, back, upper abdomen or arms.
Dyspnea:
Difficulty breathing, which can occur with or without chest discomfort.
Nausea and cold sweat:
Some men may experience a sudden onset of nausea accompanied by cold sweat.
The importance of recognizing symptoms
Understanding the specific symptoms for women or men is essential for early detection and treatment of heart attacks.
Immediate medical attention can significantly improve outcomes, but studies show that both men and women are often hesitant to seek help.
This hesitancy can stem from underestimating the severity of their symptoms or attributing them to less serious conditions.
Prevention and awareness
Preventive measures, such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol levels, are essential.
However, awareness of these varied symptoms plays a key role in ensuring that people do not ignore the early signs of a heart attack.
Public health campaigns and educational initiatives continue to emphasize the importance of recognizing typical and atypical symptoms of heart attacks across genders.
Heart attacks don't always discriminate by gender, but the symptoms often do.
Recognizing the different ways heart attacks manifest in men and women can save lives.
This highlights the need for comprehensive public health education to foster awareness and encourage people to seek medical care without delay.
Whether it's the classic chest pain or less familiar symptoms like unusual fatigue and dizziness, it's important to know and understand that any such symptom may save your life.
The writer is an expert in cardiology, internal medicine and medical management
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Cardiology
Heart Attack