Women are also thought to be most at risk of experiencing general fatigue prior to a cardiac arrest, and sensations like indigestion and heartburn.
The timing of said pain is also said to differ between men and women.
Duke Health cardiologist, Dr Radha Kachhy, previously explained: “If it happens during times of exertion, it should be taken seriously. One of my patients said her shoulder hurt every time she walked.
“She thought it was her purse, but her shoulder throbbed even when she wasn’t holding her purse.”
Also, Dr Kachhy raised awareness of the hard truth that women are more likely to brush off symptoms of ill health, especially when it comes to symptoms of a heart attack.
“I have patients who experienced symptoms of a heart attack and said, ‘Well, I decided to do the laundry first. When it didn’t get better, I went to the doctor,’” the cardiologist claimed.
“Time is muscle. The longer you wait, the more heart muscle damage can be done.”
When asked the best means of preventing a heart attack, she suggested women ‘know their numbers’, referring to their blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI)
“If you know you have some risks for heart disease, if you smoke, or if you are overweight, making lifestyle changes – like improving your diet and exercising more – can lower that risk,” she explained.
