Heart Attack in Women

Heart attacks are the #2 killer of women after breast cancer. Every year hundreds and thousands of women die in the United States due to heart attacks. Symptoms of heart attack in women are different from men. But let's first understand what causes a heart attack? We all know that heart is a muscular organ in our body that pumps and circulates blood to all the organs of the body. When one of the arteries that supply blood to the heart is completely blocked, it results in the death of heart tissues. This blockage of arteries causes a heart attack. In most cases the most common cause of heart attack is arteriosclerosis.

In the US, more than 50,000 women die every year because of a heart attack. Women who are obese and lead a stressful life are first in line to suffer from a heart attack. Chest pain as we all know, is one of the early signs of heart attack in women. However, according to recent studies it was found that most women don't even experience chest pain during heart attacks. Some of the common symptoms are shortness of breath, fatigue, feeling sweaty for no apparent reason and weakness. Other symptoms include dizziness, nausea, pain in lower chest, edema, rapid heartbeats and gastric upset.

Symptoms of Heart Attack in Young Women

If you can detect a heart attack in the first hour, the chances of survival are more. Many heart attack signs in women are also related to digestive disturbances. A heart attack often starts with mild symptoms that won't be painful. Many women experience tightness or a gripping sensation in the heart. Women suffering from heart attack experience shooting pain in shoulders, neck and arms. It has been observed that heart attacks frequently occur between 4:00 A.M to 10:00 A.M. because of the adrenaline amounts released by the body in the morning. Doing strenuous exercises also increases pressure on your heart, and may result in a heart attack. Factors like smoking, high blood pressure, lack of physical activity, stress and diabetes.

More than 40,000 cases of heart attacks in women under 40 are registered in the US every year. According to a recent study more than 40% of young women didn't even realize that their trip to the emergency room was caused by a minor arm pain which is a warning sign of heart attack. So let's have a look at some symptoms of heart attack in younger women.

Pain in Jaw and Shoulder: Women may experience pain in jaw and shoulder area at the time of heart attack. In some cases pain in jaw and shoulders might happen with chest pain. This pain may pass from the chest area or sometimes it feels like a constant pressure.

Chest Pain: Always remember that chest pain during heart attacks is not always dramatic as shown in movies. In women it is mostly mild discomfort caused to hectic lifestyle, obesity and irregular eating habits. According to leading heart surgeons most women experience chest pain in the form of pressure on the chest and a mild discomfort in back or on the shoulder blades. Indigestion and heart burn are potential symptoms.

Fatigue and Sweating: Excessive sweating is also considered as a heart attack symptom in women. Inadequate rest and fatigue is also a prime cause of heart attack.

Gastrointestinal Disorder: In some cases patients have been observed to suffer from stomach problems along with nausea and vomiting which eventually leads to a heart attack. Thereby leading many Medical institutions across the US to claim that vomiting and nausea are potential heart attack symptoms.

If any one experiences any of the above given symptoms they should seek medical care immediately. Remember heart health is more important, you should follow a balanced diet and have a proper workout routine to avoid heart attacks.