Every 90 seconds, a woman in the U.S. suffers a heart attack.
It's the number one killer of women in the country, heart disease. Every 90 seconds, a woman in the U.S. suffers a heart attack.
Dr. Rachel Mandel, FMH Assistant Vice president of Medical Affairs, said women tend to wait longer than men to call 9-1-1 when they begin having symptoms of a heart attack.
"Women don't have some of the typical symptoms that you might associate with a heart attack that men have. Men will tend to have chest pain, left arm pain, a crushing pain in their chest and shortness of breath. Women do not necessarily experience it in the same manner," Mandel said.
Some women mistakenly think only crushing chest pain is a symptom of a heart attack and, therefore, delay seeking medical care. Others have found that healthcare providers have failed to recognize their heart attack symptoms by attributing the cause of symptoms to other health problems, such as indigestion.
Symptoms of a heart attacks are pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain in the center of the chest, which may spread to the neck, shoulder or jaw, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
If you believe you're having heart attack symptoms, dial 911 right away for an ambulance. There is an advantage to calling 911, emergency medical personnel can start treatment, such as oxygen, heart medication, and pain relievers, as soon as they arrive.
February is American Heart Month.
