Why is it that the symptoms of heart disease in women are often times difficult to quantify?
The very nature of heart disease in women has yet to be fully understood. Perhaps assigning it a proper name will help.
Ischemic Heart Disease
Also known as Cardiac Syndrome X, also known as Microvascular Coronary Disease. Confused yet?
You are not alone. As it turns out, some in the medical profession are hard pressed to diagnose a woman with IHD because of the greater symptom burden; your symptoms need to show heart disease. Which, as some of us may have experienced first hand, isn't always easy to do.
What's worse is the startling disparity in the heart care women receive in comparison to men.
So what's a girl to do?
Know The Symptoms
While it is true that some have experienced pressure and/or pain in the chest, other more subtle symptoms often present themselves as well. Included in these may be:
Pain in the shoulder, neck or jaw
Back pain
Shortness of breath
Palpitations
Extremely fatigued
A feeling of fullness in the area above the stomach with loss of appetite or nausea
Heart rate fluctuation (either too fast or two slow)
Lightheadedness
Dizziness
Sweating
A sense that something is very wrong
Additionally, at least in my case, these symptoms would come on without warning. In fact, they would occur more often than not when I was at rest. Should you be experiencing these or any other symptoms you believe to be associated with your heart, contact your physician immediately. Don't rule out a trip to the ER if necessary.
For links to conditions discussed in this article, please see http://rebeccasheart.wordpress.com/
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Thank you for sharing this information, but I think I am confused after reading this post...can you help clarify for me?
I have read, and heard from the numerous "Go Red" campaigns, that heart attack symptoms for women are VERY different than those for men. Are you saying that there is also another name for heart attacks for women, and it is specifically called "Ischemic Heart Disease"?
thank you!
December 27, 2009 - 8:11pmThis Comment
Hi Alison;
Thank you for your reply.
To be sure, Go Red is one of the premiere sites for information on women with heart disease.
I'm a proud member and enjoy reading the posts there.
My post, however, "Ischemic Heart Disease", defines a particular diagnosis of heart disease in women. This term has been acknowledged by the good folks at Cedar Sinai Womens Heart Clinic as the more appropriate term for heart disease that affects the microvessels. This term then is not used as a definition of a 'heart attack' in women.
A heart attack is a heart attack regardless of gender.
Please let me know if I can answer any further questions for you.
December 27, 2009 - 11:32pmVery Sincerely,
Rebecca Fortunato
http://rebeccasheart.wordpress.com/
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