WHY WOMEN ARE AT GREATER RISK THAN MEN WHEN IT COMES TO HEART ATTACK?

A heart attack taught me that life is short and precious and that every day is a gift. – Sarah L. Peterson

Women are less likely to survive their first heart attack than men. This may be because the symptoms differ between the sexes. Women are likelier to have a “silent” heart attack or display unusual symptoms.

Women are more likely than men to die after a heart attack. But if you get help quickly, treatment can save your life and prevent permanent damage to your heart.

The signs of a heart attack are similar in males and females, but females may also be more likely to experience symptoms in the weeks before a heart attack occurs, such as fatigue and sleep disturbances.

Women are less likely to survive their first heart attack than men. This may be because the symptoms differ between the sexes. Women are more likely to have a “silent” heart attack or display unusual symptoms.

Also, female biology creates unique risk factors for heart attack, as some diseases that increase risk, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), are not present in male.

Signs of heart attack

• Chest pain or discomfort.

• Feeling of a pounding heartbeat.

• Rapid or irregular heartbeats.

• Unexplained wheezing.

• Shortness of breath.

• Fainting or near fainting.

• Lightheadedness or dizziness

Heart attack vs. cardiac arrest

A heart attack is when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked. The heart muscle is robbed of its vital blood supply and, if left untreated, will begin to die because it is not getting enough oxygen. A cardiac arrest is when a person's heart stops pumping blood around their body and they stop breathing normally. Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death — about 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually in the United States. By performing Hands-Only CPR to the beat of the classic disco song “Stayin’ Alive,” you can double or even triple a victim’s chance of survival.

I was so busy building my future that I forgot to enjoy the present. A heart attack taught me to live life to the fullest every day. – Martin Devers

A heart attack is not a death sentence; it’s a wake-up call. – Richard Harris