Heart attack symptoms in women - Causes and Treatment

Heart Attack Symptoms in Women Explained in Detail

The risk of heart disease in women is frequently overlooked due to the mistaken belief that they are naturally safeguarded against cardiovascular conditions. However, several studies today have disproved this notion. When the flow of blood to the heart is greatly reduced or blocked by a condition called Myocardial infarction or Heart attack.  

Heart attack occurs due to

• Atherosclerosis (fatty deposits) inside arteries that carry blood to the heart muscles form as plaque, which builds up & narrows the inside of the arteries, making it difficult for blood to flow and resulting in a Heart attack.

This makes it important to be aware of the symptoms and treatment surrounding the condition. Read this article to learn about symptoms of heart attack in women and more.

Causes of Heart attack for women

There are a lot of environmental, genetic and lifestyle factors which cause a person to have a heart attack. The following are the causes and risk factors of Heart attacks and the symptoms of heart attack in women.

• Diabetes & Obesity - Women with Diabetes tend to develop heart disease at an increased rate than men with Diabetes.  
• Emotional stress and depression  
• Smoking  
• Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs) - Oestrogen in hormone patches, implants, vaginal rings & injections can cause an increase in blood clotting, which leads to an increased risk of a Heart attack.  
• Menopause & Pregnancy complications  
• Family history of early heart disease  
• High cholesterol and high blood pressure  
• Inflammatory diseases.  

Heart attack symptoms for women  

There are a few common symptoms which indicate a person having a heart attack. It is really important to be aware of them so that efficient measures can be taken when faced with them. A few symptoms of Heart attack in women are:

• Chest discomfort/chest pain with neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or upper belly (abdomen) discomfort.  
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness & heaviness  
• Pain in one or both shoulders till little finger
• Experiencing an urgent sensation of vomiting
• Palpitations & profuse sweating
• Dizziness, feeling lightheaded or faint 
• Unusual fatigue  
• A sense of pain is usually felt behind the breast bone or also known as the sternum.   

Heart failure symptoms for women

People with heart failure are more prone to getting a heart attack, so it is essential to know the symptoms of heart failure. These include

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue and weakness
• Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
• Persistent cough with white or pink blood-tinged mucus or wheezing. 

 Prevention of Heart attacks for women

Lifestyle management is the key to managing Heart attacks in women. Here are a few practices to incorporate in your daily life to prevent heart attacks:

• Quit smoking  - Smoking is considered to be a major risk factor that contributes to a person having a heart attack. According to statistics, more than half of heart attacks that occur in women are due to smoking. If you are a regular smoker, then you should reach out to a healthcare provider for help with quitting smoke. 
• Healthy & balanced diet – Choose whole grains, fruits & vegetables, low-fat or fat-free dairy products and fewer meats. Avoid saturated or trans fats, high amounts of salt and added sugars.  Some other things that you need to consider when making lifestyle considerations are – the portion of serving sizes that you take. Additionally, you also need to keep track of your fibre and sodium intake.
• Exercise and maintain a healthy weight - Getting a good amount of exercise is necessary to prevent heart attack symptoms in females. A few types of exercise that you can do to reduce heart attacks are – cycling, swimming, and brisk walking. Even indulging in minor household tasks every day is sufficient to keep the heart healthy. Prior to getting started with an exercise routine, make sure to consult a healthcare professional.
• Manage stress - Taking too much stress is another potent factor of getting a heart attack. Stress can cause the arteries to tighten & increases the risk of heart disease, that is, coronary microvascular disease. It also causes pain in the chest which can feel like a heart attack. You can practise yoga and medication to relieve yourself of stress. 
• Avoid or limit alcohol - on regular medications under follow-up - blood pressure medications, blood thinners, aspirin & statins are to be taken under regular follow-up.  Having a habit of heavy drinking leads to cardiac failure, which ultimately causes a heart attack. Additionally, taking in too much alcohol also increases the chance of getting a stroke.  
• Regular walking, exercise – Having a habit of regular walking helps to maintain a healthy heart.  It also actively reduces the chance of a person getting any kind of Cardiovascular disease. Walking is a very low-impact activity that everyone should indulge in as a regular habit to get healthy and better.

Heart attack treatment for women

Treatment options for Heart attack are

• Conservatively management - Combined therapy with nitroglycerin, aspirin, statins & beta blockers.  
• Coronary Angiogram – Diagnostic invasive procedure to identify the number of blocks, their sites & severity.
• Coronary angioplasty and stenting – These invasive procedures are done to open clogged arteries, which are called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), to treat single or double vessel disease.  
• Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) – CABG helps to treat triple vessel disease.  

Importance of Heart Checkups for Women

Heart Checkups are really important and help monitor any changes in them. By getting regular heart checkups, one can easily detect abnormalities and take preventive measures or even opt for necessary treatment beforehand.  

Tests Conducted During Heart Checkups

A heart checkup is a required preventive care procedure that also prevents any significant damage to the overall health of a person. Here is a list of tests that get conducted during such an exam:

●Review of Medical History
First off, the doctor reviews your medical history. They also ask about the health history of your family as well. This is important as having a family history of heart disease increases your risk of getting a heart attack even more.
●Physical Exams
Then, the doctor conducts physical exams by taking, for instance, blood pressure and pulse readings. Another important factor that gets assessed is your weight as well. After all, weight that is classified as "obesity" or "overweight" is a positive contributing factor towards getting heart disease and attacks.
●Other Tests
A few other examples of tests that might be conducted to gauge symptoms of heart attack in women are ECG (electrocardiogram), stress test, blood test, coronary angiogram, etc.

How to Stop a Heart Attack?

While there is absolutely no way to stop a heart attack after it has already started, you can practise these measures to bring it under control. 

●  Call Your Local Emergency Number

The first thing to do is call your local emergency number when experiencing a heart attack. Never ignore the symptoms of one. If it happens that you cannot get an ambulance, make someone else drive you to the nearest hospital.

If you have no other option left, then only drive by yourself. But again, this is generally unsafe and not recommended.

●    Take Aspirin If Prescribed

This is to be followed only if you have Aspirin prescribed to you by a medical professional. Taking Aspirin reduces damage to the heart. 

Only after calling the emergency services can you (if prescribed) take an Aspirin to reduce female heart attack symptoms.

Getting a Cardiac Health Insurance

Inactive routines, stress-ridden sleep cycles, and unhealthy habits are some of the prominent reasons for the increase in cardiovascular diseases in India. So, if you invest in the best cardiac health insurance policy, you will be assured of the benefits of financial security and peace of mind when things don’t go right!

Star Health’s Cardiac Care Insurance Policy is one such heart insurance that aligns with the customer’s health requirements and provides the best cardiac health insurance for patients to have a solid financial back-up in times of hospitalisation for heart diseases.

Conclusion  

Heart diseases are preventable. Women are more likely to experience Heart attack symptoms like shortness of breath, back or jaw pain and nausea. Heart attack requires prompt medical attention. Appropriate, balanced food, adequate sleep and stress-free, lifestyle modifications like regular exercise & walking will help to reduce the incidences of Heart attacks. By indulging in healthy habits, one can genuinely and actively reduce symptoms of heart attack in women.