Experts have issued a warning that many women could be missing a vital sign, leaving them more likely to die of a heart attack. According to data, around 77 women in the UK die every day from this medical emergency.
As reported by NottinghamshireLive, most people experience symptoms such as chest pain during a heart attack. However, feelings of heartburn, anxiety and “funny turns” are also very common.
Since these symptoms seem fairly harmless, women often don’t seek the medical help they need. And now experts have highlighted indigestion as a lesser-known symptom of a heart attack, saying it could indicate the condition.
A study, published in the journal Circulation, revealed that indigestion was a common symptom experienced by women in the month leading up to their heart attack.
About 39 percent of the women in the study reported feeling uncomfortable before their heart attack, but indigestion was not common during the heart attack itself.
Indigestion can be pain or discomfort in your upper abdomen (dyspepsia) or burning pain behind the breastbone (heartburn), says the NHS. The aim of the study was to accurately describe the symptoms of coronary heart disease in women, and to develop a deeper understanding of the warning signs.
Researchers stated: “The current description of ‘typical’ cardiac symptoms is based primarily on the experience of white, middle-aged men.”
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This “contributes to misunderstandings in clinicians and lay individuals, leads to inaccurate diagnosis, and causes women to delay seeking treatment.”
They added that earlier research found that between 85 to 90 percent of women reported several symptoms before a heart attack.
Women reported the following symptoms in the month before the heart attack:
- Unusual fatigue (71 percent).
- Sleep disturbance (48 percent).
- Shortness of breath (42 percent).
- Indigestion (39 percent).
- Anxiety (36 percent).
Women experienced these symptoms during a heart attack:
- Shortness of breath (58 percent).
- Weakness (55 percent).
- Unusual fatigue (43 percent).
- Cold sweat (39 percent).
- Dizziness (39 percent).
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) says women are 50 percent more likely to be misdiagnosed with heart problems than men.
According to the BHF way to lower your risk of a heart attack include:
- Keeping active – which has been proven to boost energy, sleep and quality of life
- Maintaining a healthy weight and diet – this will help your overall health and prevent extra strain on your heart
- Limiting how much alcohol you drink (less than the recommended 14 units per week)
- Stopping smoking and using other tobacco products
- Controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels (if you have diabetes).
If you think you or someone you know is experiencing a heart attack you should call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.