All women face the threat of heart disease. And women are more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms without chest pain. Women tend to show up in emergency rooms after heart damage has already occurred because their symptoms are not those usually associated with a heart attack, and because, as women, we often downplay the warnings.
While many of us may be familiar with heart attack symptoms in men and often consider heart disease as a ‘man’s disease’, the latest Ministry of Health figures show that more than 3,000 New Zealand women die each year as a result of heart disease and there are more than 65,000 living with the condition. The Heart Foundation says heart disease kills twice as many women in New Zealand than any other single cause.
Often these deaths are premature and preventable as the signs and symptoms are often incorrectly interpreted. Nearly two thirds of women who die from a heart attack have no history of chest pain but, instead, experience symptoms like indigestion, gas, nausea, unusual fatigue, shortness of breath or dizziness. These symptoms can appear and then recede so the sufferer often assumes stress or exhaustion is the cause, or confuses this with some other illness and fails to seek medical attention.
KNOW THE SIGNS
- Discomfort in the jaw, neck, shoulder, back and arm
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Light-headedness or dizziness
- Unusual fatigue
RISK FACTORS
To protect yourself from having a heart attack, you need to reduce your risk factors. Smoking, being overweight, high blood pressure, diabetes and a family history of heart disease all contribute to an increased risk of heart attack.
The risk also increases in women who have gone through menopause as their metabolism and body fat distribution can change. Menopause can also cause an increase in blood cholesterol level, blood pressure and insulin resistance.
MANAGE YOUR RISK
- Stop smoking
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
- Be active, for at least 30 minutes, every day
WHEN SHOULD WOMEN GET A CHECK?
Visiting your doctor or nurse for a heart check will identify anything that may be putting you at risk of a heart attack or stroke. The best time to do this is:
- Women without known risk factors – 55 years
- Women with significant known heart disease risk factors – 45 years
- Māori, Pacific and Indo-Asian women – 40 years
- Women with type 2 diabetes – annually, as part of the diabetic review
If you are experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack, seek medical assistance quickly to avoid the risk of permanently damaging your heart or sudden death. Call 111 immediately.
For further information visit heartfoundation.org.nz
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