Myth:
The popular belief is that a heart attack hits both men and women in the same manner. This implies that the symptoms of heart attack are the same irrespective of gender.
The origin:
It is not difficult to trace the origin and propagation of the myth. The myth originated sheerly because of the lack of knowledge. Heart diseases and problems had a common set of preceding conditions and these conditions led to certain symptoms. Since anyone with these conditions could be susceptible to a heart attack, it was felt that gender had no role to play in the symptoms of an attack. Adding to the myth was the fact that doctors too never give a separate symptoms list to women and men. A common list automatically makes the assumption of common symptoms.
The reaction:
When women are actually made aware of the fact that the symptoms they experience vary from those that men face, the initial reaction is surprise. But once the women who have had a heart attack are told about the different symptoms, they agree to have experienced those symptoms. They also agree that they failed to notice them as heart-attack symptoms. The reaction among doctors too is not completely myth-free. There are still no guidelines which are female-specific when it comes to heart attacks. The opinion based on a current research is that public messages need not differentiate between the symptoms in men and in women!
The facts:
The facts as far as heart attacks are concerned, are far different from the myth that has remained for long. The following are the facts:
- Women get the hint of a heart attack almost a month before it actually occurs. However, they rarely pay attention to them for they appear as symptoms of common problems and ailments.
- When older people get a heart attack, they get it with almost no chest pain. Since women usually get attacks at a higher age, they experience almost no chest pain. But, we are still not 100 percent sure whether this is age dependent or gender dependent.
- The major symptom of a heart attack, as far as men are concerned is the shortness of breath and a chest pain. In case of women, the major symptom is the same. But for almost a few weeks before the event, they experience unusual fatigue, sleep disturbance and indigestion, all of which are attributed to other causes. Thus, nobody considers it as a warning sign of an impending heart attack.
- Though it is possible that a woman gets a heart attack in the way depicted in movies, the usual signs of having a heart attack include abdominal pain, aches in the jaws and back, nausea and at times, shortness of breath.
- Women usually deal with the symptoms of an oncoming heart attack by taking rest, taking wrong medications, controlling diet (mistaking gas to be the culprit) or by visiting the spa.
- The No. 1 way in which men present themselves with heart attack is with severe chest pain and heaving breath. The No. 1 way in which women present themselves is dead!
What do the experts say?
The principal investigator of a research conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Jean McSweeney, PhD states emphatically that day-to-day symptoms like sleeplessness, indigestion and weakness in the arms have been recognized by women as warning signals that preceded a heart attack. The director of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Patricia A.Grady, PhD, concludes that symptoms in women are not as predictable as those in men. Therefore, she feels, that it is necessary to widen the symptoms list to include those which the women often miss.
Quick tips :
It is high time you realize that heart disease is one of the deadliest killers around and the most misunderstood also. Here are some quick tips that may bust other cardiac myths.
- Heart diseases have a greater chance of striking the elderly but that does not exempt the youngsters! With the growth of obesity and congenital disorders, even toddlers are at a risk.
- Though fitness and strength are indicators of health, they do not exempt one from a heart attack. So, however fit you are, it is better to get the cholesterol and other levels checked regularly.
- Being thin does not mean that one is not susceptible to heart disease.
- Heart diseases are also caused by environmental and habitual factors like smoking, over eating, pollution etc. They are not genetic alone.
- Do not assume that you need to do your heart check ups only if your doctor orders one. Prevention is better any day. So, please be regular in cardiac check ups.
