Anatomy of a heart attack: It's different for women – Valley Bugler Newspaper

Heart attacks happen to both women and menbut they dont always look the same. Theyre not as obvious as youd see on TV, and thats true for more women than men.

What to look for: What does a heart attack feel like? Chest pain or discomfort is the most common symptom for both women and men. The pain may last a few minutes or come and go. Some people say it feels like pressure, squeezing, or fullness. Or it may feel like an upset stomach or heartburn.

But women are more likely than men to have other heart attack signs, according to heart specialists. Those signs can include:

*Shortness of breath with or without chest pain

*Nausea, lightheadedness, or vomiting

*Unexplained fatigue that may last for days

*Back, shoulder, arm or jaw pain

Women are also at higher risk for silent heart attacks, according to some studies. This is when symptoms of a heart attack are so mild that they go unnoticedor are dismissed as anxiety.

Silent heart attacks are just as dangerous as more obvious heart attacks, though. Left untreated, they can cause scarring and permanent damage, raising risk of other heart problems.

So dont be too quick to dismiss shortness of breath or lightheadedness as anxiety. Make sure you tell medical professionals that you think youre having a heart attack, not an anxiety attack.

Quick treatment can restore blood flow to the heart and help prevent damage. So be aware of these warning signs for both yourself and others. If theres even a slight chance you could be having a heart attack, dont wait. Call 911 and get to a hospital to give your heart the best chance.

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Anatomy of a heart attack: It's different for women - Valley Bugler Newspaper