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.

Heres a look at what makes recognizing a heart attack so importantand why noticing more subtle signs is especially important for women.

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, says Paul Connor, MD, PeaceHealth Medical Group Cardiology, in Bellingham.

Those may 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, says Dr. Connor. Left untreated, they can cause scarring and permanent damage, raising the risk of other heart problems.

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

A supply problem at the pump

Despite womens more subtle symptoms, the mechanics of a heart attack are fundamentally the same for both sexes. It happens when the hearts blood supply is reduced or cut off, most often when an artery becomes blocked.

What usually sets the stage? Doctors call it atherosclerosis. It happens when arteries that bring blood to the heart slowly become clogged with plaque. A blood clot can form around these plaques, causing complete obstruction of the blood flow to the heart muscle.

Without prompt treatment, areas of heart muscle may die and eventually be replaced by scars. This damage could leave a heart attack survivor with a weakened heart.

And a weak heart may not be able to pump blood to the bodys organs like it should, which could result in other quality-of-life issues, Dr. Connor says.

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 | Peacehealth | goskagit.com - goskagit.com