Small Things Count

As we all know, men are different from women.  It’s important to remember that one of those differences is in how men and women experience a heart attack.  Today, which is National Wear Red Day to promote heart-attack-awareness for women, it’s appropriate to post a reminder of what the American Heart Assn. says are women’s symptoms, with a note about men’s:

Symptoms of a heart attack:

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.

• Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As with men, the most common heart attack symptom in women is chest pain or discomfort. But it’s important to note that women are more likely to experience the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.