Women’s heart attack symptoms not always what you might expect
After going for a run one afternoon last June, Gordon County resident Joy Reeves felt slightly nauseous and sick to her stomach. She went home, made dinner for her family and went to sleep that night. Reeves woke up sweating, with stabbing pain in her chest.
Her instincts kicked in and she called a friend who is also a health care provider to talk her through her symptoms. Reeves’ friend raced to her house and drove her to the emergency department at AdventHealth Gordon. In denial that anything was severely wrong, Reeves went through the many items she needed to take care of the next day.
Reeves had no history of heart health challenges and didn’t experience the more well-known symptoms of a heart attack. But when her blood work came back confirming the heart attack, Reeves was immediately admitted to the ICU. She underwent a heart cath procedure with Spencer Maddox, MD, of AdventHealth Medical Group Cardiology at Calhoun, who walked her through every step and continued to call and visit her as she recovered.
Reeves had experienced a heart attack which affects more than 800,000 people per year. Her symptoms were different than the well-known symptoms such as feeling pressure on her chest.
According to the CDC, heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death among women in the U.S., with over 60 million women
(44%) living with a form of heart disease. The American Heart Association offers the following facts about women and heart disease.
♦ Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of new moms and accounts for over one-third of maternal deaths.
♦ Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined.
♦ Menopause doesn’t cause heart disease, but the approach of menopause marks a point in midlife when women’s cardiovascular risk factors can accelerate.
♦ There are an estimated 4.1 million female stroke survivors living today, but approximately 57.5% of total stroke deaths are in women.
♦ Most cardiac and stroke events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes.
It is important to understand and recognize symptoms before they start and seek emergency care immediately. While some women have no symptoms, many might have:
♦ Angina — usually felt as a dull or heavy chest discomfort or ache
♦ Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat
♦ Pain in the upper abdomen
or back
These symptoms may happen when resting or active. Women also may have other symptoms, including:
♦ Nausea
♦ Vomiting
♦ Tiredness that won’t go away or feels excessive.
If you or someone you know experiences the following, call 911 immediately:
♦ Chest pain or discomfort, upper back or neck pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath
♦ Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations)
♦ Shortness of breath, sudden fatigue, or swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, or abdomen
In the months following Reeves’ heart attack, she found comfort and support in the care team at AdventHealth Gordon’s cardiac rehabilitation gym. She recalls Cindy Butler, who helped motivate her to keep going to strengthen her heart and is grateful to Dr. Maddox for continuing to check on her in the year following her heart event.
Reeves cautions other women to take care of themselves, as they are often the caretakers for family members
and friends and put their own needs aside. It’s also never too early to fight back against heart disease. In fact, the American Heart Association urges adults to begin taking preventive measures against heart attacks as young as age 20.
Here’s what you can do to improve your heart health starting today:
♦ Quit smoking.
♦ Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish, nuts and low-fat dairy products.
♦ Reduce your intake of saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, red meat, sweets and sugary beverages.
Aim for 30 minutes of
physical activity five or more days per week.
♦ Work with your doctor to manage your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.
♦ Take steps to deal with stress by exercising, getting six to eight hours of sleep per night, and spending time with people who bring you joy.
♦ Limit alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
Starting at age 20, visit your doctor for heart-health screenings. Some of the screenings include checking your blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and body mass index. If your doctor finds you have a problem, like high blood
pressure, he or she will recommend steps you can take to manage it before you develop more serious issues.
“Pay attention to your body because I thought I was a very healthy person,” Reeves said. “Stress is such a big factor in one’s life and self-care is essential. Tell your doctor if something changes in your health.”
Reeves credits Dr. Maddox and the ER team for saving her live last June, allowing her to be there for her daughter, Ella, who is now a nurse, and son Evan, a junior at Calhoun High School.
To learn more about our cardiology services at AdventHealth Gordon, visit GeorgiaHeartExperts.com.