GET TO KNOW YOUR HEART
NSW director of health programs at the Heart Foundation JULIE ANNE MITCHELL shares the heart attack warning signs and preventions we need to know
You know the old movie cliche: someone having a heart attack clutches their chest in agony and falls to the ground.
While chest pain is certainly a common sign of a heart attack, it’s not the only sign. Heart Foundation research found that up to 40 per cent of women did not experience any chest pain during the onset of their heart attacks. Yet many women are unaware of any other symptoms, and only one in two women is confident she would know what to do if having a heart attack. Meanwhile, in a very sad statistic, we lose 10 Australian women to heart attacks every single day.
WARNING SIGNS
In both men and women, chest pain or discomfort are tell-tale signs of heart attack. People say it’s like having an elephant sit on their chest or a belt tightening around it. It can also feel like bad indigestion. But research shows women are more likely to experience the non-chest-pain symptoms of a heart attack. These include pain, pressure, heaviness or tightness in your arm(s), shoulder(s), neck, jaw or back. You may also experience a choking feeling in your throat, or your arms may feel heavy and unable to be used. Other warning signs include a cold sweat, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness or light-headedness. Some people have described feeling generally unwell or “not quite right”. Trust your intuition and act fast. Call Triple Zero (000) if you think something’s wrong. The quicker you get treatment, the better your chances of survival.
PREVENTIONS
The best way to look after your heart is with a healthy lifestyle. This includes being smoke-free, maintaining a healthy weight, having blood pressure and cholesterol checks, being physically active and enjoying a variety of nutritious foods.
It’s also a good idea to see your doctor for a heart health check, which will help determine your risk of having a heart attack. This is recommended if you are over 45 years old, or over 35 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Heart disease is often not on a woman’s radar as personally relevant to them, but in consultation with your doctor, some simple lifestyle changes could keep your heart beating longer and stronger.