New Study Reveals Women Undergo Different Kinds Of Heart Attack Symptoms Before A Cardiac Event Than Men

People think that chest pain and uneasiness in the left arm are some common signs and symptoms of almost all types of heart attacks. However, over the years, many studies have shown it might not be true in all cases. Studies have revealed that only these symptoms are not the hallmarks for all patients. A new study has found that women go through a different set of heart attack symptoms than men. Experts who have been involved in the study have said that in many cases red flags of heart attack among women can start showing up weeks before the actual cardiac incident. The study has been done by experts from the American Heart Association (AHA). Experts have been analyzing symptoms of heart attack among women. They have found that around 95 percent of women start developing new symptoms of a heart attack a month prior to the cardiac event and these symptoms fade away after the incident. Around 71 percent of women have the same subtle symptoms before the heart attack, said the experts. The AHA has started a survey on 500 women who have recovered from a heart attack in 2003. The authors of the study have said that unexplained fatigue has been the most common symptom among 95 percent of women who have said that they have not been feeling well during the month or before the cardiac incident. The study has noted that around 71 percent of women have said that they have been experiencing tiredness for no logical reason weeks before they have suffered a heart attack. A cardiologist Leslie Cho has claimed that if people undergo new or unexplained fatigue or if they feel tired after their usual workout session or while resting, they should get in touch with their health care provider and consider the risk of a heart attack.

The authors of the study have said that unusual fatigue is not the only alarming symptom that can lead to a cardiac event. If people are not able to sleep properly, it might be a matter of concern. As per the survey done by the AHA, around 48 percent of women who have recovered from a heart attack have said that they have been facing difficulty in falling asleep a month prior to their heart attack incident. This is the reason; Dr. Leslie Cho has said that for people who feel exceptionally tired for no rational reason and have difficulty in falling asleep, then it might be an early sign of a heart attack. The survey has revealed that fewer than 1 in three women undergo chest pain during the onset of a heart attack. The survey has noted that only 31 percent of women experience chest pain before a cardiac event that is considered a hallmark sign of a heart attack. Nearly 43 percent of women have said that they have felt no chest pain during their cardiac events. The authors of the study have said that due to no chest pain prior to the onset of a heart attack, most heart attack cases are undiagnosed among women as compared to men. Experts have said that more often women are incorrectly diagnosed and discharged from emergency wards. Scientist Jean C. McSweeney who is a professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has said that many health care providers still consider chest pain as the main sign of a heart attack.

Health experts from the AHA have said that unexplained fatigue is the most common and early sign of a heart attack among women, while women more often experience shortness of breath as compared to any other symptoms once their cardiac event starts. More than half of the participants of the survey, or around 58 percent of women have said that they have undergone shortness of breath during their cardiac arrest. At the same time, nearly 42 percent of women have said that they have been dealing with the symptom weeks before the heart attack. Experts from the AHA have said that if people feel unexplained shortness of breath with or without chest pain, they should immediately consult their health care providers. Dr. Nieca Goldberg has said that usually, women keep a record of their symptoms of heart attack to less life-altering health issues such as acid reflux or the flu. Still, there are many women who do not believe that they can suffer a heart attack. Dr. Goldberg works as the medical director for the Joan H Tisch Center for Women’s Health at the Langone Medical Center located at New York University. The authors of the new study have said that women, who are dealing with these symptoms, should not delay their treatment and immediately book an appointment with their health care providers. However, there are many past studies that have shown that men are two times more likely to suffer a heart attack as compared to women.