Unlike the movies where the man grabs his chest and falls over from a heart attack, many women experience episodes differently. Women have symptoms up to three weeks before the attack. Knowing what to look out for can influence you to seek help sooner, which is essential since women are less likely to survive their first heart attack than men.
The most common symptom is chest pain. However, women may not have any chest discomfort. More than 50 percent of women evaluated in one study had disturbances with sleep in the weeks before their heart attack. They felt tired even though they slept more than enough, had difficulty falling asleep, and experienced unusual waking during the night.
Women often experience nausea, indigestion, or vomiting before a heart attack. They also feel weak or lightheaded, have excessive sweating without cause, and shortness of breath without exertion. The symptom can occur while lying still but ease when sitting up.
Seniors over 55-years-old are at greater risk, as are those with a family history of heart attacks, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or medical conditions like diabetes or obesity.
Read HERE for a checklist on when to see your doctor. You want to be around for decades more!