A heart attack could draw you closer to death, but the signs can be easily missed.
If the heart is partially damaged, you may still go about your usual business until you begin to notice something isn’t right. What signs should a woman never ignore?
Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Mehmet Oz has noticed women can be “great deniers and are particularly good at dismissing symptoms as the normal aches and pains of everyday living”.
Therefore, he’s gathered a list of symptoms women should never ignore, as they could indicate a heart attack.
Any “pressure, tightness and squeezing pain across the chest” should be checked out by a doctor.
Even if it’s a fleeting feeling, take note and inform your GP.
“Pain radiating down one or both arms or shoulders” is another symptom to be aware of, as is “pain or soreness in the jaw, neck, or back”.
It’s worth mentioning here that people have different experiences of pain thresholds, and what may be considered a small annoyance by one person could be extremely painful to another.
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“Shortness of breath” is another sensation to pay attention to, as well as “dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating or weakness”.
“Seventy percent of women felt fatigue in days or weeks prior to their heart attacks,” adds Dr Oz.
Sometimes, a heart attack can feel similar to anxiety, described as “a feeling of impending doom”.
This can wreak havoc on your body by inducing feelings of nausea and indigestion.
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Symptoms of a heart attack can also include a “headache, blurred vision, lightheadedness and feeling faint”.
And “coughing and palpitations” may also be present.
The doctor recommends those who are concerned they may be having a heart attack to take aspirin and call the emergency services.
A heart attack is a serious medical emergency and should be treated as one, irregardless if you think you’ll be OK.
One of the most important tasks to minimise your risk of ever having a heart attack is to look after yourself.
Dr Oz suggests people should maintain a healthy weight and waist, and to eat a diet full go fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes.
Twenty minutes of moderate activity every day is also recommended.
And make sure to keep blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol under control.
