What Women Need to Know About Heart Attacks

When people think about a heart attack, they usually imagine the victim grabbing at the chest and collapsing to the ground. While this dramatic version of a heart attack can happen, symptoms are usually less obvious, particularly for women. Sure, women feel the pressure in their chests that men do, but many experience vague symptoms that are not immediately attributed to a heart attack. While generally construed as a man's disease, more women die every year of heart disease than men. To save lives, both patients and doctors need to pay closer attention.

The Heart of the Matter

The heart is a very efficient organ, pumping nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood to all muscles in the body, including the heart itself. Compromise blood flow to the heart muscle and cells begin to die, electrical nodes that control the heart's rhythm go haywire, and the heart is no longer a well-organized pump.

Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of a heart attack. It occurs when the arteries are clogged with plaque deposits that prevent blood from flowing freely. Comprised of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other debris, the plaque can partially or totally block the flow of blood and promote blood clots. Over time, the plaque thickens in a process known as atherosclerosis. Clots can travel to vessels of the heart, lungs and brain. Left untreated, atherosclerosis can lead to a heart attack, stroke and death.

Factors that up your risk for heart disease include

• Smoking tobacco
• Sedentary lifestyle
• High blood pressure
• Low HDL and high LDL cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Overweight and obesity
• Stress

Not One Singular Sensation

Although chest pain is the most common symptom in both men and women, the location of the pain will depend on which part of the heart is affected. It is most often described as a tightness or pressure across the chest. But the pain can feel like something else such as a stomach cramp, indigestion, a headache or pulled muscle. Women are great deniers and are particularly good at dismissing symptoms as normal aches and pains of everyday living. But nothing could be further than the truth.

Here are symptoms of a heart attack that women should never ignore

• Pressure, tightness and squeezing pain across the chest
• Pain radiating down the arm, shoulders, jaw, neck, and back, particularly on the left side
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness, sweating, weakness, overwhelming fatigue
• Feeling of impending doom
• Headache, blurry vision, lightheadedness, feeling faint
• Gastrointestinal symptoms such as indigestion, nausea and vomiting
• Coughing and palpitations

An Ounce of Prevention Goes a Long Way

The best protection against coronary artery disease is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Poor diet, lack of exercise and years of bad lifestyle habits takes its toll on the heart. Still heart disease can be prevented if you are willing to stop the assault and adopt a health lifestyle from this day forward.

Here is Dr. Oz's advice for preventing heart attacks

• Learn your risk
• If you smoke, stop
• Perform moderate exercise for at least 20 minutes on most days
• Eat a heart-healthy diet low in saturated fat and high in fruits, vegetables nuts and legumes
• Maintain a healthy weight and waist
• Control high blood pressure
• Manage abnormal cholesterol
• Control high blood sugar
• Drink alcohol in moderation
• Practice stress reduction techniques
• Maintain a good balance between personal and professional life
• Be vigilant about taking medications to control risk factors
• Take one aspirin daily if you are in a high risk category