Women’s Heart Disease Symptoms – Part 1

Symptoms of heart disease in women are often different than those that are considered typical for men. This appears to be the case because most of the initial research on heart disease, and therefore the recording of signs, symptoms and conditions, were recorded from men.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in American women, greater in number than cancer. More women than men die each year of cardiovascular disease. The most common symptoms of coronary artery disease is angina or chest pain. People describe the experience as a discomfort, heaviness, tightness, pressure, aching, fullness, or squeezing. Although angina is usually felt in the chest in men, women can also feel the pain in the left shoulder, arms, neck, back or jaw.

It’s important to recognize that if you feel angina or chest pain you should call 9-1-1 and not a friend, relative or acquaintance. This is an emergency, not a coffee break. Treat it like an emergency because seconds count in the treatment of a heart attack. It can easily mean the difference between life and death.

Studies have shown that women’s heart disease symptoms are less likely to be identified as heart disease than in men. This may be because heart disease becomes more prevalent in post-menopausal women who may also be suffering from other illnesses or conditions that mask the symptoms of heart disease.

The most common symptom of heart disease in women are a burning sensation in the chest or upper abdomen that may mimic heart burn, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue and nausea that can mimic the menopausal symptoms and pain or pressure over the chest that travels to the arm or jaw. On average, the first symptoms of heart disease in women appear 10 years later in women than men and women often report symptoms before having a heart attack although the symptoms aren’t typical.

Resources:

MayoClinic: Heart Disease in Women

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease/HB00040

Cleveland Clinic: Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/cad/cadsymptoms.aspx

National heart Lung and Blood Institute: What are the signs and symptoms of heart disease

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hdw/signs.html

American Heart Association: Heart Attack Symptoms in Women

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/WarningSignsofaHeartAttack/Heart-Attack-Symptoms-in-Women_UCM_436448_Article.jsp

Womens Health: Heart Disease Fact Sheet

http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/heart-disease.html

British Heart Foundation: Symptoms for Heart Conditions