When it comes to heart attacks, we usually think of a man, clutching his chest as he convulses out of his seat in a TV show or movie. Some of us have had the unfortunate experience of having a loved one experience this, which hits deep and can create fear, confusion, or leaving us wondering why.
The truth is that women’s health has been understudied for years. While a woman can certainly have severe chest pain, heart attacks represent themselves differently in women than they so often do in men. For men, it is straightforward. One’s hand clutches heart where the pain present and no one questions the heart attack onset. Even a 4-year-old might come to the conclusion that this person’s heart isn’t functioning as it should.
As we all know, the heart connects to our whole body, so it shouldn’t surprise us that symptoms of heart attack can show up in places other than just our heart. Please note below common misconceptions or unknown facts about women’s heart attacks:
- Women are more likely to experience non-classic symptoms that lead to a delay in treatment
- Women’s heart attack symptoms, in addition to general chest pain, consist of things can be caused by various other diagnoses:Â shortness of breath, nausea, back pain, sternal spasms, spasms between scapulae, jaw pain, or fatigue
- Women are less likely to report symptoms even if they are more typical of a heart attack (ie. chest pain)
- Women receive less aggressive treatment despite observed equal benefits
- Pregnancy-related condition, breast-cancer therapies, and autoimmune diseases increase cardiovascular risk in women
What this means for you…
First off, this information is certainly not meant to scare you. Simply inform you to be aware of your body and no longer disregard your symptoms as “normal” or “just something you have to deal with”. Any doctor or physician will generally mention that these heart attack symptoms can also be signs of various other conditions:
• Reflux
• Anxiety
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Viral Illness
• Pregnancy
• Perimenopause
• Anemia
• Dehydration
Not surprisingly, this is why heart attacks in women are so easily delayed in being diagnosed, addressed, or much less, treated. Mainstream medical care is more familiar with the male body, leading to unnecessary bias, oversimplification, or is often disguised as precaution. A good provider will consider all of the above conditions as well as a potential heart attack, test for them, and give their patient a well-rounded answer and thorough education.
It is important for us to be informed about our own bodies so that we can be our own advocate in the medical world. We at Moment of Truth are here to help be partners in this with you, collaborate with your primary care providers, as well as give you much needed resources so that you can make the best decision for your health.
How do I determine if what I’m experiencing is a heart attack or not?
None of us want to be uninformed. Additionally, none of us want to be rushing to the hospital or doctor’s office at every single headache or bout of fatigue. Ultimately, testing is needed to evaluate and rule out the above concerns and determine if you are experiencing cardiovascular concerns. Consider these questions below to determine if talking to your doctor or PCP would be beneficial in light of your symptoms.
- Are your symptoms new, unusual, or sudden?
- Do your symptoms worsen with exertion or don’t improve with rest?
- Are your symptoms happening in at the same time in clusters (ie. shortness of breath, shoulder blade pain, nausea/vomiting)?
- Are your symptoms localized or whole body? (similar to above, heart attack symptoms in women usually affect more than one area)
- Do your symptoms last 20+minutes or come in waves?
- Do you have risk factors related to being a woman? (ie. pregnancy complications, gestational diabetes, autoimmune disease”)
- Do you regularly ignore your own symptoms and avoid going to the doctor? (You may be overdo for a holistic visit anyway)
For recommended PCPs and naturopathic doctors, please refer to our community partner link on our website: Community Partners – Moment of Truth Physical Therapy
Bonus Article: How Estrogen Affects a Woman’s Heart
Much love,
Kaylen and the Moment of Truth Team
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