Women and cardiovascular disease-what are the symptoms?

Heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 killer of American women-nearly 12 times as many American women kill as cancer of the breast. More women than men die each year to cardiovascular diseases. 8,000,000 American women are currently living with heart disease. These statistics are staggering and alarming!

So, what are the warning signs? Most people think of chest pain when a heart attack, but there are some that don't do experience. In fact, women are less likely than men to feel chest pain during an attack. Studies of hundreds of women who have had suggest that women tend to have different symptoms-such as heart attacks back pain, nausea, vomiting and/or fatigue. And that 95% experienced symptoms for the attack. So, even if you have already suffered a heart attack, the symptoms of a second attack might not be the same as your first. For this reason, it is important for women to recognize the different signs and symptoms of a heart attack, so they can take immediate action if ever needed.

The common heart attack symptoms are:

Chest pain-women often describe their chest pain, tightness or pressure as a pain. But often, women suffer severe pain during an attack. When chest pain occurs, it usually feels discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes – that can come and go. For this reason, should women milder chest pain more seriously.

Shortness of breath – this can happen at the same time you have chest pain or before it. Shortness of breath is proven to be more common in women. Studies have shown that those who experienced shortness of breath were 3 to 5 times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those who do not have this problem.

Pain in one or both arms, back, neck or jaw

Nausea, dizziness, dizziness

Sweating-more in common with men

Vomiting

Indigestion

Weakness and fatigue

*** Women who smoke are risking a heart attack 19 years earlier than non-smokers women ***

There are many life-saving treatments, but they only work best if taken within the first hour after the start of a heart attack. Many heart attack patients, especially women, wait 2 hours or more after their symptoms begin before they seek medical help. This delay can lead to death or long-lasting heart damage, and it is one of the reasons why women tend to experience worse results after a heart attack than men. Learn to recognize the wide variety of symptoms that can be experienced before and during an attack will help you get the treatment you need fast – and even can save your life.

You can still learn more on www.mayoclinic.com and  www.familydoctor.org for more information.