Heart Attack Symptoms in a Woman

A heart attack one of the leading causes of death for both men and women, and women account for approximately 50 percent of heart-disease deaths each year. It's a largely preventable disease, which makes the death rates all the more troubling. Knowing the signs, risk factors and options for prevention can help save your life.

Causes

• A heart attack occurs when plaque that has built up in your coronary arteries ruptures. When the plaque ruptures, a clot begins to form. This clot, if large enough, can block the blood flow to the heart causing muscle damage and a heart attack. The plaque that builds up and breaks up is cholesterol that has deposited itself along the lining of your arteries. It's controlling this cholesterol buildup and keeping it to a minimum that's important for avoiding a heart attack.

Symptoms

• Some heart attack symptoms can be the same for both men and women. Pressure or discomfort in the chest, and pain, are the most common symptoms. Other common symptoms of a heart attack are pain extending down your arm or in your jaw and an impending sense of doom. However, in women they may not be the most evident signs. Women tend to experience symptoms other than chest pain more often then men. These include shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. They may also experience neck, upper back and abdominal discomfort.

Risk Factors

• The risk factors that can contribute to a heart attack mainly stem from the lifestyle you lead. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and tobacco smoke are all significant risk factors. Obesity, stress and alcohol use can all play a role in your chances of having and surviving a heart attack. If you have a family history of heart disease you have an increased risk of a heart attack as well. In women, particularly, depression can be a risk factor. Women are twice as likely to experience depression, which increases their risk of heart disease. This makes women who suffer from depression two to three times more likely to have heart disease.

Reducing Your Risk

• Women can reduce their risk of heart attack by following a healthy and active lifestyle. Enjoy some time outdoors and exercise at least thirty minutes a day. Go hiking, skiing or swimming. Making it something fun will make it less like work. Also focus on a heart-healthy diet. Your diet should be low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt. If you haven't quit smoking yet, here is another reason. Quitting smoking decreases your chance of a heart attack.

Treatment

• If you notice any signs or symptoms of a heart attack it's vitally important to get medical help immediately. Don't wait and don't second guess yourself. If you have an aspirin take it to help prohibit the clotting. Once you arrive at the hospital the emergency medical physicians will decide if you need to undergo surgery such as angioplasty, to open up the blocked artery, or if medication is preferable. Heart attacks are survivable in most cases when medical treatment is sought quickly.