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Would you know if you were having a heart attack?


About Joanne

An advocate for women's health, strength and knowledge, I write about the issues people don't talk about, as well as the ones they do.


The symptoms of heart attack are often different in women.

Picture a heart attack.

Women: Don't ignore the symptoms of heart attack.

Women: Don't ignore the symptoms of heart attack. Picture: Shutterstock

Does your mind conjure up an image of a middle-aged man clutching his chest in agony? If so, you’re part of the majority who think of this same scenario, but the reality can be far different.

If a woman found her partner experiencing severe chest pain or for a prolonged period of time, chances are she'd recognise it as a symptom of a heart attack and call an ambulance.

Yet when the same if the same thing happens to women, research shows it’s more likely to be brushed off as a symptom of something far less threatening, such as the flu.

Women are actually more likely to die from a heart attack than their male counterparts, and heart disease is three times more fatal than breast cancer.

Once women hit menopause, the risk of a heart attack is significantly higher due to the decrease in oestrogen, which is believed to help protect the heart.

So why are women able to recognise and act on the signs of heart attack in their fellas, but not themselves?

Symptoms

Many are too busy worrying about their families to notice when something doesn’t feel right.

This is particularly dangerous because while chest pain and pressure are the most common symptoms, many women will experience other ‘atypical’ symptoms instead.

These may include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweating
  • Extreme or unusual fatigue
  • Upper back pressure
  • Lower chest or upper abdomen pressure and pain
  • Dizziness, light-headedness and fainting
  • Nausea
  • Pain or discomfort in arms, shoulders, back, neck and jaw.
  • The Heart Foundation says symptoms usually last for at least 10 minutes and may come on suddenly, severely and get progressively worse.

    Timeliness is crucial.

    If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s absolutely essential that you call ‘000’ immediately. The best thing that can happen is a false alarm, so even if you’re unsure, it’s important to make the call as soon as possible. Many fatalities could be prevented if people only acted immediately at the first warning sign.

    Risk factors

    There are several risk factors that can increase your likelihood of suffering a heart attack, and in Australia, 90 percent of women have one of these, while 50 percent have two or three.

    The most common risk factors for women include:

  • High cholesterol
  • High rates of being overweight or obese
  • High rates of physical inactivity
  • Smoking and alcohol consumption
  • Poorly controlled diabetes
  • Depression.
  • Reducing your risk

    Heart attacks affect 55,000 Australians every year, so it’s important to do as much as you can to reduce your risk. There are many lifestyle changes you can implement which will greatly improve your heart health.

    Physical activity

    Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to keep your heart healthy. This doesn’t need to be rigorous exercise, but could be as easy as going for a 30 minute walk each day, taking the stairs instead of the escalator and spending less time sitting down.

    Exercise also has a profound impact on your mental health. It makes you feel happy due to the release of endorphins and serotonin, reduces the symptoms of depression and anxiety, decreases stress, increases memory and makes you feel more energised and alert.

    Quit smoking

    Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. Just one year after quitting, your risk of heart attack and stroke is cut in half.

    If you’re thinking about quitting, contact the Quitline on 13 7848.

    Eat well

    Reduce your cholesterol by cutting down or eliminating saturated and trans fats. Try to incorporate more lean meats, fresh fruit and vegetables.

    Tips to follow:

  • Use spreads and oils made from canola, sunflower or olive
  • Use low or reduced-fat dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yoghurt
  • Incorporate fresh, frozen or canned fish twice a week
  • Select lean meat and poultry, such as chicken breast rather than drumstick or thigh, and limit your intake of processed meats, deli meats and pate
  • Eat up to six eggs a week
  • Snack on healthy foods, such as raw veggies with hummus, fruit, small handful of nuts, rice cakes or crackers and plain nut bars
  • Limit snacks high in sugar, fat and salt, such as chocolate, biscuits, potato chips and pastries, to once a week
  • Choose wholegrain or wholemeal bread, cereal, pasta and rice
  • Limit fast-food to once a week and aim for the healthier options, such as sushi, stir-fries, noodle soups, tomato-based pasta and salad sandwiches.
  • Heart health is important. Nourish your body, exercise regularly, recognise heart attack warning signs and act immediately if you think you might be experiencing symptoms.

    Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

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