Women Having Heart Attacks Often Slow to Get Help
I think I've written "heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women" in at least two dozen articles over the past decade. Yet many women still haven't gotten the message that heart attacks strike them as often as men—albeit usually a decade later. At an American Heart Association meeting held today, Yale researchers reported that women in their 40's and 50's who suffered heart attacks often delayed getting treatment because they didn't think they were having one. While it's true women under 60 make up only 5 percent of heart disease patients, the researchers point out that this translates into 16,000 deaths and 40,000 hospitalizations every year. Plus, more young women appear to be dying from heart disease, according to a British study published today, possibly because of increased rates of smoking, obesity, and diabetes.
Here's a list of heart attack warning signs in women from most common to least common, based on a previous study of young female heart attack patients conducted by the same researchers.
- Chest pain: 90 percent of women experience it
- Pain in the jaw or shoulder: 58 percent
- Sweating: 38 percent
- Nausea: 29 percent
- Shortness of breath: 29 percent
- Indigestion and heartburn: 21 percent
- Weakness or fatigue: 8 percent
My colleague Katherine Hobson has written on how women can assess their own heart attack risk, as well as on heart screening tests that benefit women most.
Tags: heart attacks | heart disease | women's health
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Reader Comments
HAIR LOSS CREAM
Very professional site. Keep doing.
I am from Vanuatu and now teach English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "Write a resume and cover letter the goal of your resume is to summarize and highlight your experience and."
THX :-(, Ianthe.
Heart Attack, Gall Bladder, or Hernia
I will soon be 59. About 5 years agoI had a colonoscopy that showed a couple polyps and a hiatal hernia. I figured I couldlive with that. I amoverweit by about 50 pounds, but I am a vegetarian.
About 2 years ago I had stomach pain and the doctor ordered an MRI; that was $1700, and my deductable was $2000. It revealed nothing, and I got over whatever it was I had.At present I am only working part time and do not have health insurance or a very large income.
I have had upper GI symptoms, however, as I stillhave the hernia, and I have had a pressing down on the top of my stomach when I lie down. Sometimes it is hard to swallow, and I have to pound myself on the chest to make food go down. I have awakened the past few nights with nausea and pain in the upper part of my stomach and my left breast. I thought maybe I had gall blasser mixed in withthe hernia thing.
At any rate I cannot afford the ER or the doctor, as I have neither the money nor any health insurance. I live alone, although my daughter lives in the same city with her husband, I do not want to scare them, but I am at a loss as to what to do.
Any suggestions for how I can get seen by a doctor? I have to admit, I am a little scared.
Thank yoiu,
Jeanne
symptons
i am 52 have had chest pains for over 3weeks and s.o.b had a stress test and wore a halter monitor both came back ok symptons still here but getting worse
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