When we talk about heart attacks, we think about extreme pain in the chest, shoulders, or jaw, and for a good reason. But that’s not all. It has various other symptoms and early warning signs that most people tend to ignore. Do you know that heart diseases kill more women than breast cancer? Though this may surprise you, women can have symptoms, unlike the usual ones. Maybe that’s why they often go unnoticed and ignored. It doesn’t mean you cannot look out for your health. Though heart attacks may seem sudden and intense, they are usually caused by slow, gradual changes in your body. Here are the five silent warning signs of heart attack women should never ignore:
- Anxiety
Have you been feeling mentally stressed lately? Do you feel overwhelmed and restless over minor situations more than usual? These may be due to anxiety. While anxiety doesn’t sound harmful, it can cause severe damage to your mind and body. Anxiety can make you stress more than usual, releasing loads of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is notorious for damaging the blood vessels, elevating blood pressure, all of which can lead to heart attacks. If you’ve been struggling with anxiety for a long time, try meditation techniques and practice mindfulness to overcome your issues.
- Unusual fatigue
If you have a challenging routine and have to work hours at your job, it is entirely okay to feel tired. If you hit the gym, it is okay to feel less energetic after an extreme activity or exercise session. However, staying tired most of the time even after little to no activity is an alarming situation. Feeling unusually tired should never be ignored. Most women have the habit of neglecting fatigue and tiredness. While many women get back up after a short period of rest, not feeling energetic even after naps and rest can be an early warning sign of heart attack in women. According to studies, nearly 70% of women reported having fatigue as a long-term symptom.
- Indigestion
You might be wondering how the heart can be related to your stomach. The truth is that underlying cardiac issues can mimic those of indigestion. These symptoms include chest pain, heartburn, nausea, and stomach aches. These symptoms are common warning signs of an impending heart attack in women. If you want to differentiate actual stomach issues from cardiac issues, try using acidity-relieving remedies. If the sensation goes away, it can be due to your stomach issues. However, if it stays even after the remedies, it could be due to underlying heart problems. Another way to differentiate the two is that heart-related chest pain and heartburn can occur before or after a meal. Whereas indigestion-related heartburn occurs after eating or when lying down on a full stomach.
Consider watching this video to know more about signs of a heart attack….
- Back pain
Surprised right? Back pain is a common issue in many women. Maybe that’s why most women tend to ignore this warning sign and mistake it for muscular or spine-related pain. However, underlying heart issues can manifest in the form of back pain. While heart attacks may have both chest and back pain, many women have no chest pain at all. This makes back pain an important alarming symptom of a heart attack. If you feel sudden pain in the middle or upper-middle back without any physical triggers, it may be due to a heart attack. If this pain is accompanied by chest, neck, and jaw pain, a heart attack is obvious. This situation is an emergency and requires immediate medical attention.
- Sleep disturbances
Have you been having trouble falling asleep? We all face difficulty falling asleep sometimes. Many factors affect our sleep. However, if you have been waking up more than usual or are unable to have a good shut-eye, it indicates a problem. Most women consider it a sign of everyday stress and ignore it. But, losing sleep can be extremely harmful. Your body requires rest, and not getting enough can damage its normal functioning. Many researchers have found a strong connection between sleep troubles and heart failure. Not getting enough sleep can trigger your body’s stress response, weakening your heart over-time. It may even lead to heart attacks in the future.
Many women report having these signs weeks or even months before a heart attack. However, they mostly go unnoticed. Luckily, now, if you notice any of these symptoms, you have better chances of catching the issue before it worsens into a heart attack.
Until Next Time,
Team Doctor ASKY!