Heart Health Alert: 5 Overlooked Symptoms in Women

Heart disease is the leading cause of death all across the world, including amongst women. However, many female patients fail to identify warning indicators at their onset, which can lead to aggravation of symptoms. Women can experience heart disease symptoms which differ from men, and only become noticeable just before a heart attack. The identification of these initial heart disease indicators enables women to receive prompt medical care, which could prevent fatal outcomes. Here are 5 warning indicators of heart disease in women.

Women who experience unexplained persistent and tiredness, should consider it as an early indicator of heart disease. The fatigue experienced by women differs from typical exhaustion, because it persists beyond normal tiredness from daily activities. Women experience persistent exhaustion even after performing light activities, or taking rest periods. The condition produces prolonged fatigue that continues for extended periods of time, while remaining unresponsive to rest. This occurs because the heart fails to deliver sufficient oxygen-rich blood to the body, which results in exhausted muscles and organs. A doctor's evaluation becomes necessary when unexplained tiredness continues to worsen with time.

Heart disease symptoms in women can start with breathing difficulties that occur while performing basic activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or doing light housework. Some women experience breathing difficulties when they rest or lie down, but their symptoms improve when they sit up. This occurs because the heart's poor blood pumping ability leads to lung fluid accumulation, which produces this symptom. Medical evaluation becomes necessary when breathing difficulties develop suddenly, or when they worsen continuously.

Women who experience heart disease, often present with less intense chest discomfort than the typical heart attack symptoms that affect men. Women experience heart-related discomfort through sensations that include pressure, squeezing, fullness and tightness instead of sharp pain. The chest discomfort in women tends to appear and disappear, while being less severe than typical male heart attack symptoms. Women experience chest discomfort as a heavy or tight sensation, which occurs in their central chest area and left side. The first sign of heart problems through chest discomfort occurs during rest and physical activity, and requires immediate medical evaluation because it indicates reduced heart blood flow.

Women experience heart-related pain differently than men, since their symptoms tend to appear outside the chest area. The first signs of heart disease in women manifest as discomfort and aching sensations, which affect the neck, jaw, shoulders, upper back and upper abdomen. The discomfort feels like muscle soreness, but it persists longer than typical muscle strain, and occurs with or without physical activity. Women experience pain that spreads from their heart to one or both of their arms. A woman should seek medical help immediately when she experiences ongoing upper body pain, which combines with other warning signs, because it indicates possible heart disease.

Women with heart disease may experience unexpected digestive symptoms, which include nausea, vomiting and indigestion before showing other signs of the condition. The symptoms present as heartburn, stomach discomfort and stomach pain, which people commonly identify as gastrointestinal issues. The body experiences unexpected cold sweats and clamminess without any physical activity. This occurs because the autonomic nervous system responds to heart blood flow reduction through these symptoms which need medical evaluation.

Disclaimer: This article is informational only and not a substitute for medical advice