Be on the Lookout for These Gender-Specific Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

December 1, 2023

Early intervention can make a significant difference in heart attack outcomes. Half of those who suffer cardiac arrest experience a symptom 24 hours before the incident. However, new findings indicate the warning symptoms can be different for women and men.

Sudden cardiac arrest outside a hospital has a ~90% mortality rate. Likewise, approximately half of the individuals who endure cardiac arrest experience at least one telltale symptom before the incident. Recognizing early warning signs can literally save lives.

A recent study highlights that heart-related symptoms might manifest differently in men and women. For medical practitioners, this news was pretty much expected. Men and women have differences in their anatomy and physiology, from the lungs and brain to muscles and joints. Similarly, men and women have differences in their cardiovascular systems. For example, women have smaller hearts and narrower blood vessels.

When it comes to cardiac arrest, both genders experience sweating and seizure-like activity. However, in addition to those symptoms, there can be significant differences in what men and women experience.

Gender-Specific Warning Signs

Men	Symptom	Women
✅	Chest Pain
	Shortness of Breath	✅
✅	Nausea and Sweating	✅
	Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, abdomen, or back	✅
✅	Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders

For both patients and medical practitioners, identifying gender-specific symptoms that precede such a critical event has notable implications for the future of public health. If these findings can be used in clinical practice, the research can contribute to improved patient outcomes.

In addition to understanding symptoms, patients should understand the risk factors for heart disease. These include family history, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, lack of physical exercise, and smoking.

While doing your best to limit or avoid these risk factors, it also makes sense to be prepared. We all have a risk of having a health issue, whether it be a heart attack, a stroke, or even cancer. A Cancer/Heart/Stroke policy from your association and AMBA is a smart investment. This plan pays money directly to you in one lump sum payment upon diagnosis of internal cancer or malignant melanoma, heart attack, or stroke. Use the money to cover the costs of hospital care, travel, out-of-pocket expenses, or however you want. To learn more call AMBA at 866-615-4063 or click to request a free Benefits Review.

Source: https://give.brighamandwomens.org/7-differences-between-men-and-women/#:~:text=Keep%20in%20mind%20that%20heart,symptoms%2C%20contact%20your%20healthcare%20provider

https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/heart_attack.htm

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