Women's heart attack symptoms vary from men: Breathlessness, vomiting, fatigue could be warning signs

By Dr RR Kasliwal

Believe women don’t succumb to heart disease as much as men? Think again.

As per the American Heart Association, cardiovascular diseases kill nearly one in three women each year, making them as susceptible as men. Moreover, heart disease is the leading cause of death in India accounting for 17.8 per cent of deaths, according to the 2016 Global Burden of Disease Report.

Our sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits are the main reasons for the risk of heart attacks. People are usually aware of the risk that come along with stress, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and lack of physical activity, but they usually ignore it till the condition worsens.

Women & Men Experience Different Symptoms

Even though the percentage of women affected by heart disease is alarming, several cases don’t get reported in the hospitals. The warning signs such as breathlessness go unnoticed.

Women typically don’t get the conventional pattern of angina with pain in the left side of the chest. Instead, they experience atypical angina leading to discomfort in the back, neck and shoulders. The other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness and abdominal discomfort.

While symptoms for men are sudden and extreme pain, and cold sweating, women experience less intense and more frequent attacks. They are unknowingly dismissed as stress or fatigue, and get detected only when they seek medical advice.

Post menopause, risk factors for heart disease increase as the body undergoes significant hormonal changes with a decrease in the estrogen level. Estrogen has a positive effect on the inner layers of the arterial walls thereby reducing the chances of heart disease. Reduced estrogen makes menopausal women more vulnerable to heart disease. Regular screening leading to timely diagnosis is the key to a healthy heart.

Life’s Simple Seven

- Say no to saturated fats
- Say no to smoking
- Say no to stress
- Say no to sedentary lifestyle
- Say no to excess body weight
- Say no to excess sugar
- Say no to excess salt

Coronary Artery Disease can be reversed with lifestyle changes. Making simple changes in what you eat, how often you exercise, how much you weigh and how you manage stress can help put the brakes on heart disease. As much as it is important for women to take care of their family, they should also take care of their own health. Women must be aware of cardiovascular risks and take precautionary measures to prevent the onset of the disease or reverse its devastating impact with lifestyle changes.

(The author is chairman clinical and preventive cardiology, Heart Institute from Medanta – The Medicity)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.