An astonishing 35 percent of all heart attacks in women go unreported sometimes, because women’s symptoms are often different than men’s. A lot of women encounter nausea as their main symptom. They may also have some chest discomfort. Women should also be aware that heartburn that is not relieved by antacids or other prescribed medicine, may indicate the presence of a heart attack.
Some of the symptoms to look for are:
- discomfort in the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and returns; may feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain
- upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the neck, the back, the jaw or stomach
- unusual fatigue, weakness or light-headedness
- shortness of breath
- nausea or vomiting, cold sweats, dizziness
If you feel any of these symptoms, reacting quickly is extremely important!. Call 9-1-1 for help within five minutes if you believe you are having a heart attack. Do not drive yourself or others with symptoms to the hospital unless you have no other choice. Chew an aspirin (325 milligram) while you are waiting for the ambulance to come. Lie down and breathe slowly. Doing all these precautions may decrease the damage done to your heart.
In women, the risk for heart disease increases with a waist measurement of over 35 inches. Women who have abdominal obesity may develop a condition called metabolic syndrome (sometimes referred to as insulin resistance syndrome). This puts them at a higher risk for stroke and diabetes, as well as heart disease.
The most efficient way to prevent and treat metabolic syndrome is to make health changes in your diet, lose weight, exercise more, and don’t smoke. There are medications to help with this if necessary.