Myocardial infarction presents differently in men and women. This is why they must listen to their body and take certain signs seriously.
- Around 80,000 myocardial infarctions are recorded every year, with more and more women affected.
- Women’s symptoms differ from men’s and are more difficult to spot.
- It is important to listen to your body and seek care as soon as possible.
In France, there are around 80,000 heart attacks each year, and more and more women are affected. In fact, taking the contraceptive pill combined with smoking increases the risk of heart disease. In addition, an unbalanced diet as well as a sedentary lifestyle contribute to blocked arteries. Age, diabetes, stress, depression, menopause, broken heart syndrome and pregnancy complications are also likely to contribute to heart disease.
“It is important to first recognize the risk factors for heart disease and then combat behaviors that may exacerbate this risk. (…) Certain factors play a more important role in the development of heart disease in women than what are considered traditional risks, such as high cholesterol, obesity and high blood pressure”, recalled Chatura Alurdoctor at the Mayo Clinic Health System, an American university and research hospital federation, in Mankato.
“Atypical” symptoms of a female heart attack are fatigue, sweating and nausea
Some patients can develop a heart attack without any warning symptoms. When certain signs occur, they are called “atypical” because they differ from those usually observed in men. Indeed, unlike in males, chest pain, pressure or discomfort are not always to be considered, nor are they even the most important symptoms of myocardial infarction in women.
The Mayo Clinic states that the signs of a heart attack in women are often misunderstood because they are often diffuse. Symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, back and jaw pain. Other patients report dizziness, pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, and severe fatigue.
Sweating, nausea, dizziness, and unusual fatigue may not look like typical symptoms of a heart attack. However, they are common in women and are more likely to occur at rest or during sleep.
“We want patients to understand the importance of listening to their body”
“Many women tend to downplay their symptoms and not seek care until heart damage has already occurred and a trip to the emergency room becomes necessary. We want patients to understand the importance of listening their body, to understand what seems normal to them and to seek care before symptoms become severe”concluded Chatura Alur.
