Women beware:Heartattack
symptoms differ from men’s
As a woman, I want to
know if heart attack
symptoms differ from those
of men.
: “Yes,” says
Rupa Puttappa, M.D.,
a board-certified specialist in
cardiovascular disease at
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. “About
40 to 45 percent of women
don’t experience the typical chest
pain considered the most
common indicator for heart
attack. And even if a woman
does, it usually isn’t severe.”
Women’s symptoms tend to
be more subtle, such as having
upper back pain, abdominal
discomfort or nausea.
“Unfortunately, patients –
and even some doctors – still
consider chest pain the most
important symptom for men
and women,” she says. “Yet,
even for men, heart attacks
rarely occur as portrayed in
movies where someone clutches
their chest and falls to the floor.”
Women also tend to respond
differently to warning
symptoms. “Women are less
likely to believe they’re having
a cardiac event and delay –
sometimes fatally – seeking
emergency treatment,”
Dr. Puttappa warns. “Another
misconception, which many
women still believe, is that heart
attacks are for
men only. But
heart disease
kills six times
as many women
as breast cancer
each year.”
It’s important
that women
know their
numbers. “By that I mean
knowing the recommended
healthy ranges for blood pressure,
pulse, fasting blood sugar, weight
and cholesterol levels,” she says.
“If you have symptomatic
concerns, my advice is to be
seen by a knowledgeable
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