Every 40 seconds, a woman, man, or child in the United States has a heart attack. If it happens to you, you may not even know it. One out of every five heart attacks is silent, which means that those classic symptoms of chest clutching and chest pain are absent. You’re more likely to have a silent heart attack if you’re a woman.
Whether silent or dramatic, heart attacks can be deadly. During a heart attack, something restricts the flow of blood to your heart, robbing it of life-giving oxygen. Every heart attack damages your heart, causing heart cells to die.
At Laurelton Heart Specialists, cardiac specialist Dr. Ola Akinboboye and our team encourage women to take their cardiac health seriously. If you have subtle symptoms of a heart attack or angina (i.e., chest pain), call 911 or schedule an evaluation at our office in Rosedale, Queens, New York City, New York, as soon as possible.
What are the subtle heart attack symptoms in women? The following are the most common.
While heart attack sufferers clutch their chests in movies and TV shows, you may not have an acute, severe stab of pain in your chest that indicates you’re having a heart attack. Particularly if you’re a woman, your angina may be so subtle that it’s easy to dismiss.
Pay attention if you experience the following:
Women who have a heart attack may think that they’re just experiencing a case of heartburn. If your symptoms don’t get better with rest or if they keep coming back, please contact us for an evaluation. Whether the problem is with your cardiovascular system or not, you can begin to get the treatment you need to feel better and keep your heart safe.
You probably already know that pain in your left arm could indicate a heart attack. But women often experience pain in other, seemingly unrelated areas that are also due to cardiac arrest:
Severe jabs of pain or sudden throbbing that doesn’t go away is not something you should ignore. If you’re already under cardiac care, take your nitroglycerin or aspirin, as prescribed. Call 911 if you think you’re having a heart attack.
If you have sensations in your chest accompanied by chills, fever, or cold sweats, you could be having a heart attack. Take these warning signs seriously and get medical care right away.
Sudden nausea or vomiting can also be a sign of a heart attack, particularly if any of the above symptoms accompany it.
Don’t be afraid to call 911 if you have the subtle symptoms of a heart attack, especially if you’re a woman. If you are in the middle of a heart attack — even if it’s not a “dramatic” one — you need medical care right away to protect your heart from damage.
After a heart attack, your heart begins to repair itself. However, the damaged areas may develop scar tissue, which makes it harder for blood to flow freely, raising your risk for another heart attack.
If you or your family has a history of cardiovascular disease, a preventive screening can identify potential problems before they cause a heart attack. If you have atherosclerosis or are in danger of developing it, we may give you medications to help keep your blood pressure down and your blood freely flowing.
Are you at increased risk for a heart attack? Call us at 718-208-4816 to get the care you need to protect your heart, or use our online outreach form.
