Danger Signals
Because many women don’t even know that
they have heart disease, it’s important to know the
warning signs and when it’s time to see your doctor.
If you know what symptoms to look for, you can work with
your physician to treat them early.
Nausea, fatigue, and shortness of breath are some symptoms
of heart disease in women, but they can also signal anxiety
or stress. In a Gallup survey, 88 percent of primary care
physicians were not aware that women’s heart-attack
symptoms might differ greatly from men’s symptoms.
In addition, emergency room (ER) physicians miss the signs
of a heart attack much more often in women under 55 than
in men under 55, according to a recent study published in
the New England Journal of Medicine.
Because women’s symptoms are often misdiagnosed,
they are far less likely to be treated with aspirin, beta-blockers,
and other heart-attack prevention medications. Cardiac catheterization
tests are ordered at a much lower rate for women than for
men.
Your best defense is knowledge. Learn as much as you can
about your own heart health and take an active role in your
health care.
References
- “Panic
Attack or Heart Attack? Responding to Atypical Symptoms
of Heart Disease,” Women’s Heart Foundation,
2000.
- “Clinical
Decisionmaking: Missed Diagnosis of Heart Attack or Angina
in Two Percent of ER Patients Is Usually Due to Atypical
Symptoms,” Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality, 2000.
Source of Material: RockHill Communications, 14
Rock Hill Road Bala, Cynwyd, PA 19004, (610) 667-2040, http://www.RockHillCommunications.com
Writer: Christine Norris
Editors: Andrea King, Joanne Poeggel, Erin Murphy, Ron
Wozny
Clinical Reviewer: Patt Panzer, M.D. - RockHill Communications
Date Written: 3/1/01
Last Reviewed & Updated: 5/31/2003 |
