Heart Attack Gives Different Signals in Men and Women

Heart attack, which is the first cause of death in the world and in our country, is rapidly spreading among women! Moreover, since it is not known that heart attacks give different signals in men and women, many people may misinterpret these signals and lose their lives.

Emphasizing that the cardiac muscle damage and mortality rates are lower in patients who are started treatment in the first 2 hours, Acıbadem Dr. Şinasi Can (KadıköyHospital Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Refik Erdim said, “Although heart attack symptoms are similar in men and women, there are some important differences. However, since the complaints of the onset of a heart attack in women are more uncertain, the diagnosis of heart attack is made later and mortality rates are higher. For this reason, it is very important to know the signals of a heart attack in women correctly and to apply to the hospital very quickly when these symptoms occur. " says. Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Refik Erdim explained the heart attack signals in women and men and made important warnings and suggestions in his statement as part of the Heart Health Week of April 12-18.

4 signs of a heart attack in men

1. Chest pain is the most common symptom during a heart attack in both men and women. This pain is a compressive pain in a wide area in the middle of the rib cage, usually spreading to the back and left arm. It is described by most of the patients as the squeezing of the rib cage with great weight and the development of shortness of breath.
2. Pain in both arms and shoulders, jaw or abdominal pain without chest pain can be observed in heart attack patients.
3. Although the finding of shortness of breath with or without chest pain is more common in women, sudden-onset shortness of breath may be the first sign of a heart attack in men.
4. Cold sweating and fear of death can be observed together with chest pain during a heart attack in both women and men. This complaint is one of the most important findings of heart attack and requires emergency hospital admission.

4 signs of a heart attack in women

1. Although chest pain is the most common symptom in women, unlike men, this pain may begin with a mild severity days before a heart attack and become severe afterwards. Chest pain in women can be either constricting or can be described as burning by patients. The complaint of back pain together with chest pain is seen approximately 3 times more often in women than in men. Again, in men, the pain usually spreads to the left arm, while in women it can spread to both arms or to the left lower jaw.
2. Another finding that is more common in women is the sudden onset of extreme fatigue and weakness without chest pain. If there is a feeling of heaviness in the chest together with this complaint, which occurs especially at rest or with very light movement, it should be applied to the hospital.
3. Feeling of weakness and fainting is more common in women, especially in women, due to low blood pressure and pulse at the beginning of a heart attack.
4. Although it is observed in both genders, complaints such as stomach pain, burning in the stomach, gas and bloating are observed 2 times more frequently in women compared to men, especially in heart attacks involving the lower wall of the heart. These complaints can be confused with stomach complaints and cause delays in treatment. For this reason, the possibility of a heart attack should definitely be considered if there is gas, bloating and stomach pain, especially in patients with cardiac risk factors.