MLB Weekly Digest September 3rd Edition - NGSC Sports
Top Doc: Is It A Heart Attack?
Twenty percent of women will not have the same symptoms from a heart attack that a man has, and instead of the classic, there's an elephant on my chest or chest pain radiating into the neck and down the left arm, which is thought to be the classic picture, and what I was taught in medical school. Fully 20%, that's one out of 5 women will have instead epigastric pain or feeling of indigestion, which may or may not radiate to her back. She will become very short of breathe and nauseated and you can imagine when a woman like that, who is not assertive, comes into an ER room and she meets an uniformed triage nurse or physician, she can be sent for an upper GI series or a gallbladder series because she's having a quote gallbladder attack and given valium for her hyperventilation, when in fact, she's having a heart attack. One of my favorite stories is that I appeared in the emergency room to see a patient of mine who had reported herself to the emergency room with just those symptoms, and I walked in to see her, and my intern said to me, not knowing who I was, now you have to be very careful not to misdiagnose this, because 20% of women have just these symptoms when they have a heart attack. I said is that right, I'm very glad to hear you say that. So at least at the level of the young trainee, I think we are making a good impact.","publisher":"WebMD Video"} ]]>
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: How does a woman's experience of heart attack differ from a man's?Marianne Legato, MD
Twenty percent of women will not have the same symptoms from a heart attack that a man has, and instead of the classic, there's an elephant on my chest or chest pain radiating into the neck and down the left arm, which is thought to be the classic picture, and what I was taught in medical school. Fully 20%, that's one out of 5 women will have instead epigastric pain or feeling of indigestion, which may or may not radiate to her back. She will become very short of breathe and nauseated and you can imagine when a woman like that, who is not assertive, comes into an ER room and she meets an uniformed triage nurse or physician, she can be sent for an upper GI series or a gallbladder series because she's having a quote gallbladder attack and given valium for her hyperventilation, when in fact, she's having a heart attack. One of my favorite stories is that I appeared in the emergency room to see a patient of mine who had reported herself to the emergency room with just those symptoms, and I walked in to see her, and my intern said to me, not knowing who I was, now you have to be very careful not to misdiagnose this, because 20% of women have just these symptoms when they have a heart attack. I said is that right, I'm very glad to hear you say that. So at least at the level of the young trainee, I think we are making a good impact. latest videos on Women's HealthLoad More
Heart Attack In Women
Heart Diseases: Common Heart Related Problem Faced By Women, Watch VideoIn the last few years, there has been witnessed a dramatic rise in cases of heart failure and heart attack diabetes can worsen the conditions related to the heart. If you are a diabetic, you are prone to cardiovascular problems. It becomes essential to check your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. In this video, our expert will discuss women's common heart problems. Watch Video.
How To Recognize The Symptoms Of A Heart Attack
Chest pain is one of many possible symptoms of a heart attack. Knowing the other symptoms and what to do if they develop may save your life or the life of a loved one.
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked or significantly reduced. The event can cause permanent damage to heart tissue. Responding quickly to heart attack symptoms is essential to minimize complications and long-term heart problems.
The more aware you are of some of the common and even some of the less common symptoms of a heart attack, the better equipped you'll be to get treatment for yourself or someone else who may be experiencing a serious cardiac episode.
Keep reading to learn about the symptoms of a heart attack.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that chest pain or discomfort is present with most heart attacks, but several other symptoms may be present.
It's worth noting that heart attack symptoms tend to be nontypical or different in certain populations including females, older adults, and those with diabetes mellitus. If you belong to one of these groups, have a discussion with your doctor about symptoms that may be unique to you.
Common signs and symptomsWhile chest pain or discomfort occurs frequently, the nature of that discomfort varies. It may be experienced as pressure or a squeezing sensation or as a sharp pain, often on the left side of the chest. Heart attack chest pain may get progressively worse, or it may come and go.
Other common indications of a heart attack include:
Though left arm pain is more commonly associated with heart attack symptoms, you can have pain in your right arm only or in both arms. Likewise, you may have pain in one or both shoulders during a heart attack.
Some people also report that they have a vague sense of impending doom before other heart attack symptoms set in or while symptoms are developing.
In womenWomen with heart disease may experience typical heart attack symptoms, such as chest pain, though in many cases their symptoms are less obvious. Women often have more subtle symptoms that may not always suggest a heart attack, according to the American Heart Association.
Some of these symptoms include:
A sudden jolt of chest pain may be an unmistakable sign that a heart attack is underway. But for many older adults, other symptoms may be more confusing.
For example, older adults who become winded while climbing stairs or doing yard work may treat a symptom such as shortness of breath as an age-related complaint rather than a heart attack symptom. If you're resting and start to have trouble catching your breath, call 911.
In people with diabetesPeople with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease and at a younger age than those without diabetes. That's because high blood glucose from diabetes can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control your heart.
If you have diabetes that has affected some of the nerves in your chest, the onset of seemingly minor chest pain may be masking a more serious problem, such as a heart attack.
Atypical symptoms may include:
If you have been diagnosed with and are being treated for heart disease, your doctor can let you know about heart attack symptoms to be aware of so that you'll be prepared if one occurs.
The symptoms you experience during a heart attack may be more intense than the ones that initially led to your heart disease diagnosis. That includes conditions such as angina or shortness of breath with exertion.
Angina is chest pain that occurs when the heart muscle isn't getting a sufficient and steady supply of blood. There are two types of angina:
Telling the difference between angina and a heart attack isn't always easy. If you have a bout of chest pain after exercise or other exertion and the pain subsides quickly when you rest, you probably have stable angina. If, however, the pain continues, gets worse, or comes and goes, it could be a heart attack.
An episode of angina usually lasts anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour, while heart attack symptoms often last for more than 30 minutes, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. If you're unsure, have someone drive you to an emergency room.
Heartburn, also known as acid reflux or acid indigestion, can present as a mild or sometimes very uncomfortable sensation in the center of your chest. If the chest discomfort eases when you change positions — sitting up instead of lying flat — or when you take antacids, the chances are good that it's heartburn.
Also, if you have a history of heartburn after consuming certain foods or beverages, look for those clues if chest discomfort develops.
Heartburn is also accompanied often by a sour taste in your mouth or mild regurgitation (stomach contents backing up into your throat or mouth). It usually occurs without typical heart attack symptoms, such as shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or pain elsewhere in the body.
Recognizing and responding to heart attack symptoms can save a life or at the very least, reduce the damage a heart attack can cause.
The main symptoms of a heart attack are:
Take the time to learn those and other symptoms, especially if you or someone close to you is at a high risk of a heart attack. This includes older adults, people with a history of cardiovascular disease, and those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
The sooner you react to signs of a heart attack and call 911, the better the chances of successful treatment and recovery.
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