When faced with symptoms like shortness of breath, sharp chest pain, and dizziness, women are the first ones to say, “I just need to rest for a bit, I’ll be fine once I get this done and can rest.”
According to a Lifescript.com article online, some physicians mistakenly believe that women under the age of 55 aren’t supposed to have heart attacks, but some do. Heart disease is one of the most misdiagnosed conditions in women. A possible reason why could be attributed to the fact that women present symptoms of heart disease differently than men. And there hasn’t been adequate research with women to know what these different symptoms are.
The number one killer of women over 45, heart disease is not something you want to mess around with. Even if you think you may just be having a bout of stress or anxiety, it may be a good idea to get checked out by your doctor, and request a nuclear stress test or stress echocardiogram to rule out a possible heart condition.
Do you have a question about heart disease? Check out EmpowHER’s pages. Sign-up, post a question, share your story, connect with other women in our groups and community, and feel EmpowHERed!
Resource:
Lifescript.com: 3 Commonly Misdiagnosed Conditions in Women
EmpowHER: Heart Health Myth: It’s Just Stress!
Christine Jeffries is a writer/editor for work and at heart, and lives in a home of testosterone with her husband and two sons. Christine is interested in women’s health and promoting strong women.