Women, Please Take Care of Yourself Too!

Our Intricate Body Sends Subtle Signs of Danger

Heart attacks are not so dramatic in real life as they are portrayed in movies and you always don’t fall down holding your arms tight by your heart. There is a vast difference in what women think a heart attack would feel like and what it actually feels like. It’s a fact that next to the reproductive system, it is the cardiovascular system that functions extremely differently between the two sexes.

Never Ignore These Symptoms
Women have smaller blood vessels compared to men and are likelier to suffer from smaller, non-fatal heart attacks. While a recent research conveyed the news that men and women face similar symptoms during a coronary blockage, women mostly succumb to a silent heart attack which shows no symptoms. Every woman is different and experiences a different set of symptoms. Some of them mentioned by heart-attack survivors even take us by surprise:
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Rigid Arms
Upper arms ache terribly sometimes when we get up after sleeping the previous night. Most of us ignore this ache blaming our improper sleeping position or gym workouts and it also turns out to be a trivial reason in most cases. Rarely can these be symptoms of a heart attack and they are present along with jaw and chest soreness. 

Jaw Pain: A Strong Sign of a Heart Attack Occurring Months Earlier!

​Persistent Jaw Pain
Jaw pain occurs due to cold, sinus issue or a muscle problem. Problems in the jaw along with fatigue and arm issues can occur months before a heart attack occurs and intensify as the day fast approaches. 

Nausea & Vomiting
A 2018 study showed that two-thirds of women who experienced a heart attack before the age of 55 suffered from gastric problems, indigestion issues, nausea or stomach pain while it was only 50% of men who experienced similar symptoms. Vomiting normally is a case of some digestive problem, but when it is present with other symptoms here, it can be an indication of a heart attack.

Breathlessness
If you feel out of breath while talking rapidly in the middle of a meeting, doing household chores or even when you lie down simply, it can be an early sign of heart problem. This happens when the arteries are blocked unable to send oxygen to all parts of the body.
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Unusual Fatigue
Fatigue is an often-ignored symptom by most women as they experience it every month during their menstruation or due to overburdening workload. Sometimes it shoots up past its reasonable levels, for instance people feel like taking a nap soon after shower, feel like sitting down on the steps after climbing one flight of stairs or feel exhausted only after standing for 10 minutes together. These changes are critical and need immediate attention as they are different from the everyday aches and pains that women put up with.

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Back Pain Origins from the Chest Sometimes

​Back Pain
Similar to jaw pain, back pain can happen sometime before the attack hits you. Some experience it as a sharp pain between the shoulder blades while some others feel as though the pain is right behind their heart. Lower or upper back pain starts in the chest and spreads to these areas. 

Tingling Chest
A tingling sensation in the chest or chest tightness is often ignored as it is accompanied by symptoms such as jaw pain, fatigue and stress. Some assume it to be gas. Chest discomfort is the most notable symptom of heart disease. Some feel their chest to be as heavy as an elephant sitting over it while some others say that it was simply a burning sensation.
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Symptoms of Flu
Some people experience flu-like symptoms including fatigue, nausea and body aches which they ignore. If you feel that things seem out of place even mildly, get it checked immediately. It might turn out to be a normal flu, but you have ruled out the possibility of a grave disease.

Snoring
Snoring is not an instant sign of heart disease and it is ok to snore when you snooze. Extremely loud snoring like a chocking or gasping sound is indicative of sleep apnea as you stop breathing for several moments while sleeping. Sleep apnea is extremely dangerous when left unattended. Get to know the symptoms and precautionary measures from the website www.firsteatright.com. Cardiovascular health can be maintained by following a healthy lifestyle that includes ample physical activity, a healthy diet and a peaceful work-life balance. Being aware of how your gender affects cardiovascular risk profile and taking necessary action can be even more helpful in letting you stay healthy.

Human body is an intricate art work that is delicately connected. As intricate as it is, our body also sends out strong signals when there is something going wrong inside it. Most women notice these warning signs weeks or months before the actual heart attack. Chances of recovery increase based on your reporting time of these symptoms-the sooner, the better. Meet your physician immediately if you feel that you are not normal or when you experience any of these symptoms continuously for more than five minutes. 

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