Knowing signs of silent heart attack may save your life

Women sometimes don't recognize they may be at risk of silent heart attack, in part because the symptoms of cardiovascular disease and heart attack they may experience are often different from those that strike men.

In fact, more than 1 in 3 women with the life-threatening heart condition known as acute coronary syndrome don't experience the classic symptoms of crushing chest pain that men do. As a result, women face far greater risks of being misdiagnosed or even suffering a "silent" heart attack that goes unnoticed by their doctors or hospital healthcare professionals, experts say on Newsmax Health.

Dr. Erika Schwartz, a leading advocate of disease prevention and wellness, tells Newsmax Health that women need to be proactive about heart disease and be on the lookout for signs that they may be at risk — and not simply rely on their doctors or healthcare.

She recalls a patient in her 60s who died after repeatedly going to a hospital emergency room with chest pain — but was sent home because the doctors there did not recognize the signs that she had cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Gulati, a cardiologist, notes symptoms of heart disease in women can include milder chest pain than men experience. But many women may merely feel nauseated or like they have the flu. Women may also feel anxiety, heartburn, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, or dull aches in their arms, jaws, teeth, or backs instead of the more severe painful symptoms men experience.

Dr. Schwartz notes that most of the research on heart disease has involved men and not women and that treatments have been largely designed for men.

"I don't think that physicians are really trained" to recognize heart disease in women, she adds. "I think they're getting better. But I have to tell you that most physicians [dismiss] women's problems as being in their heads, or being menopausal. And I find that actually offensive, representing women and being a physician and listening to women every day."

She advocates that women take charge their own health, and recognize the potential risks they face — and take steps to reduce them.

She also recommends adopting heart-healthy habits to head off cardiovascular problems. Among them:

Diet: Consume at least five daily servings of fruit and vegetables; limit consumption of fried and fatty foods; buy lean, low-fat protein; and choose lower-fat and whole grain foods.

Exercise: Get at least 20-30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five days a week .

 Stress: Look for ways to lower your stress level through exercise, relaxation techniques, Yoga, swimming, or other activities.

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