Heart attack in Women

A Heart attack is a potentially fatal condition brought on by an obstruction in the blood supply to the heart. Knowing the symptoms of a heart attack that are unique to women may encourage someone to seek medical treatment more quickly, potentially saving their life. Compared to men, women have a lower chance of surviving their first heart attack. This might be as a result of gender-specific symptoms. Women are more prone to experience odd symptoms or suffer a “silent” heart attack.

Signs of a Heart attack in women

A Heart attack is frequently anticipated to occur unexpectedly. They may interfere with sleep and they may be continuous or intermittent. Any lady who exhibit any of these signs must get assistance right now.

Eight signs and symptoms of a Heart attack are:

1. Chest pain

Chest pain or discomfort is the most typical symptom in both men and women.

It can be characterised as:

• Tightness
• Pressure
• Squeezing
• Aching

Women, meanwhile, might have an attack without feeling any chest pain.

2. Extreme or extreme weariness

In the weeks before a heart attack, unusual weariness is frequent. Additionally, fatigue is felt right before the event. Even easy tasks that don’t involve much effort can leave you feeling worn out.

3. Deficiency

One typical acute sign of an attack in a girl is feeling weak or wobbly. Meanwhile, trembling or weakness could be accompanied by:

• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Having dizziness

4. Breathing difficulties

Shortness of breath or laboured breathing without activity, particularly when coupled with exhaustion or chest pain, may indicate heart issues. Additionally, women may experience breathing difficulties while lying down, which subside when they are sitting up straight.

5. Sweating

Another typical heart attack symptom in women is excessive sweating without a known cause. Cold and clammy sensations might sometimes be a sign of heart issues.

6. Upper body discomfort

This is typically non-specific and cannot be linked to a specific upper body muscle or joint. The following areas may be impacted:

• Neck Jaw
• Either arm or the upper back

It’s possible for the pain to develop suddenly or for it to begin in one place and gradually extend to others.

7. Sleep problems

These agitations may involve:

• Having trouble falling asleep
• Abnormal night-time awakenings
• Despite having adequate sleep, you still feel worn out

8. Stomach issues

Before having a heart attack, some women may experience pain or pressure in the stomach. Other gastrointestinal problems connected to a potential attack include:

• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Postmenopausal Heart attack

As Oestrogen levels decrease after menopause, hence, the risk of an attack increases.

Symptoms of a heart attack after menopause include:

• Arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach ache or discomfort
• Irregular or fast heartbeat
• Severe chest ache
• Absent-minded sweating

When to visit a doctor for Heart attack

The British Heart Foundation advises all women over 40 to visit their doctor regularly for check-ups. This aids in early risk factor detection so they can be managed. The likelihood of a cardiac incident is decreased with early management.

Anyone who experiences any of the following heart attack warning signals should consult a doctor right away:

• Unusual exhaustion
• Breathing difficulty

A physician will take note of symptoms, examine blood pressure and heart rate, order blood tests, and use an electrocardiogram (EKG) to observe the electrical activity of the heart.

Emergency services should be called when

The use of emergency care can save lives. Therefore, call an ambulance right once if you notice any of the following symptoms, especially if they are present for five minutes and more:

• Chest pain
• Symptoms of upper body pain include arm, back, neck, jaw, or shoulder pain.
• Having trouble breathing
• Dizziness
• Extreme fragility
• Bloating or heartburn
• Nausea
• Irregular or fast heartbeat
• Breathing difficulty
• Sweating
• Unaccounted-for anxiety
• Vomiting

Prevention

Some suggestions for improving heart health are:

• Going to your doctor for routine health examinations.
• Taking action to control other medical concerns, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and blood pressure.
• Giving up smoking and abstaining from any tobacco products.
• If overweight, losing weight
• Walking for at least 30 minutes each day to get your heart rate up.
• Eating a balanced diet and, if necessary, seeking dietary advice from a dietitian.

Conclusion

Heart attacks are critical, potentially fatal medical conditions that call for immediate attention. Symptoms of an attack in women differ from those in men. Additionally, they have more risk factors. Women can take a variety of actions to lower their risk of a heart attack. Moreover, understanding heart attack signs, particularly in the weeks leading up to the attack, can also help to improve outcomes and avert complications.