Symptoms Not To Overlook for Men and Women
Men tend to have most of these common symptoms:
Chest Pain
You may have signs of discomfort and pressure usually located in the center of the chest.
Lightheadedness
You may be feeling dizzy or possibly faint.
Nausea & Vomiting
You may feel sick; it’s very common during a heart attack to vomit.
Shortness of Breath
You may be taking deep breaths, mimicking exertion, as if you just did a sprint. This could also be accompanied by chest discomfort.
Coughing
You may have a continuous cough in response to fluid buildup in the lungs.
Women may experience less chest pain and more complex symptoms:
Distal pain
You may experience pain down the arms, radiating across the upper back, a clenching jaw, or even severe neck pain. All of this may be without chest discomfort.
Abdominal pain
You may have abdominal cramping pain or a sharp stabbing feeling. Most women are very in tune with their abdominal region, so they can distinguish urgent pain.
Unexplained Fatigue
You may feel very tired or lethargic. Your daily activity might feel like a marathon. This may be ongoing leading up to the day of your myocardial infraction.
Unexplained Sweating
You may have a cold sweating feeling, with no activity.
Heart attack symptoms present themselves differently depending on the individual, so don’t dismiss any possibilities. The most important rule of thumb is don’t waste time if you are experiencing these yourself or witnessing someone else with these possible symptoms. Get help immediately and call 911!
- Heart attack symptoms and warning signs. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4595. Accessed March 22, 2011.
- Heart attack warning signs. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/actintime/haws/haws.htm. Accessed March 22, 2011.
- Women and heart attack. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/actintime/haws/women.htm. Accessed March 22, 2011.
About the Author: Scott Williams
Related Posts
« Money 101: Getting Back to Basics Please RSVP, You’ve Just Been Invited to Dinner with James Beard »
