Symptoms of heart attack are more subtle in women than in men. As a result, it becomes more difficult to identify in time a stroke and therefore the risks of mortality rise.
Know the signs of a heart attack:
1. Are there distinctions between men and women?
Until recently, general medicine and cardiology in particular ignored women in scientific studies. In the absence of specific data, doctors risked underestimating their forecasts. For example, symptoms of heart attack are more subtle in women. As a result, women themselves and even doctors can not identify an attack time. That could explain why the mortality rate after an infarct is greater in women.
2. What happens to the drugs?
Do they act the same on men and women?
This is a grey area. For example, some thrombolytic drugs (to remove blood clots that clog arteries and cause heart attacks and stroke) act differently in women. There could be an increase in the risk of complications between genders.
3. Are the symptoms different in women?
For both men and women, the most common symptom of a heart attack is some kind of pain, Tightness or discomfort in the chest. However, this symptom may not be sharp, even relevant in women. In fact, signs and chest symptoms are usually not as severe in women.
Common symptoms are:
1) Discomfort in the neck, shoulders, back and abdomen
2) Shortness of breath
3) Nausea and vomiting
4) The sweats
5) Dizziness and confusion
6) The feeling of severe tiredness
4. What to do if you have doubts?
In the presence of Heart Attack Symptoms or at the slightest suspicion, women (and men) should seek emergency advice immediately and indicate their status and act upon the instructions directed.
5. Few people know that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women,
so why is this not promoted better?
Many women still believe that the primary cause of death for women is breast cancer. They have internalized the idea that heart problems are a thing of men. The great fear is breast cancer and smoking, hypertensive or being obese is often dismissed.
6. What’s life like with a high risk of a heart attack?
The affected may not be able to leave their home, sometimes can not even walk or play with their children. Some women with certain types of heart disease have a very poor quality of life. This scenario can be avoided with proper treatment, applied in time. For this, the doctor should be able to recognize the symptoms.
7. What can be done to reduce the risks?
The 3 basic tips are to avoid a sedentary lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking. Women, who are treated, must take their drugs (Beta blockers, anticoagulants, aspirin,) as your doctor prescribes them. Of course, they must control all risk factors: hypertension, levels of cholesterol and blood sugar. As for food, the more rich in fresh and raw (fruits, vegetables, fish, legumes, nuts …) and less abundant in refined products, the better.
8. What kind of physical activity is recommended?
Being active means taking the stairs instead of taking the elevator, walking several miles a day (ideally, buy a pedometer and try to take 10,000 steps a day), sign up for dance classes, hiking or cycling…
9. What does the future hold?
Further studies are helping to identify gaps in knowledge and create better treatments. Physicians are increasingly aware of the differences between the sexes and act accordingly.