Heart Attack in Women: Recognizing Atypical Symptoms - PD Hinduja Hospital
Heart attacks are typically linked with abrupt, squeezing chest pain—a dramatic picture firmly entrenched in popular culture. But for women, the situation can be much more insidious and, regrettably, more deadly as a result of delayed diagnosis and treatment. Fatigue, nausea, and back pain are common symptoms that get misdiagnosed, with disastrous consequences. Doctors at PD Hinduja National Hospital in Mahim, Mumbai, stress the need to spot these silent indicators to save lives.
Understanding the Unique Symptoms in Women
Dr Chandrasekhar Ponde, Consultant Cardiologist and Head of the Department at PD Hinduja National Hospital, sheds light on this issue:
"The warning signs of a heart attack in men and women are quite significantly different. The chest pain serves as the main symptom in men who exhibit heart attack indicators. Men will experience intense pressure in their upper chest, together with pain spreading to their arms or jaws, along with heavy sweating. Women usually do not show symptoms of chest pain when experiencing a heart attack, although male patients typically do feel chest pain. Instead, they might feel extreme fatigue, nausea, or back pain, which leads them to consult a physiotherapist or gastroenterologist before even considering a cardiac issue."
Such misinterpretation can delay lifesaving treatment. Women might mistake their symptoms for acidity, indigestion, or stress, leading to a failure to seek timely medical help.
Why Are Women at Higher Risk of Misdiagnosis?
One of the main reasons heart attacks in women go unnoticed is the lack of awareness among both patients and healthcare providers. Dr. Ponde explains:
"Women may dismiss the symptoms, such as tiredness or pain in their backs, by assuming they are exhausted from their work or passing through menopause or just experiencing normal stress. They do not notice heart attack symptoms as readily as men because they tend to disregard early warning signs until they become more severe."
Furthermore, traditional diagnostic methods may not always detect heart disease in women. Standard tests like stress tests and ECGs are designed based on male-centric symptoms. The medical condition instead affects their small blood vessels, also known as microvascular disease, which standard heart imaging methods usually fail to detect. Additional sophisticated imaging systems, along with advanced diagnostic approaches, become necessary for secure diagnosis of their heart problems.
The Role of Lifestyle and Genetics
According to Dr. Ponde, four essential lifestyle modifications can help avoid heart disease in women, which is caused by a complex interplay between inherited and lifestyle factors. He emphasised the importance of mental health and suggested yoga and meditation as ways to lower stress and maintain heart health.
Western fast-food consumption has increased steadily, while he urged society to rebuild healthy diets by incorporating traditional diets rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. The study presented walking briskly for 45 minutes as an important prevention measure that people needed to practice five days a week.
According to him, patients should concentrate on lowering stress through balanced mental approaches and adequate relaxation because excessive and unrealistic ambitions worsen cardiac health.
Genetics also contributes. The population of Asian Indians faces an increased risk of heart attacks because of their genetic factors. He also underlined that if heart disease runs in the family, then it is advised to start taking early heart disease risk reduction measures around age 20, regardless of normal cholesterol levels.
Call for Greater Awareness and Regular Screenings
Experts stress the significance of consistent heart screenings to help decrease misdiagnosis and delayed treatment, which often have devastating effects on health. As a guideline, experts recommend that one be evaluated for heart health at least once before the age of 20, then every five years until age 40, then every two years after age 40.
It is also advised to follow this pattern even if you do not have any symptoms because it makes seeing your healthcare provider more comfortable and reduces the possibility that you may overlook any underlying heart-related problems. The real advantage of these regular assessments is that they help spot issues before they become life-threatening.
Namrata Hinduja on Women's Heart Health Awareness
Namrata Hinduja, Member, Steering Committee, Hinduja Foundation, stresses the importance of awareness campaigns for women's heart health:
"Women usually place family responsibilities above their self-care needs. The prevailing attitude requires a change. Those who receive knowledge about the distinct signs of a heart attack can gain better abilities to receive proper medical assistance during critical situations. With the PD Hinduja Hospital's initiative, we are working on preventative healthcare endeavours to enable more women to identify symptoms while taking proper protective measures."
Breaking the Myths Around Heart Attacks in Women
It's alarming how many women are still being caught off guard by heart attacks, and a lot of it is because of some pretty dangerous misconceptions. Some people assume it's an old age issue, but the reality is, young women, particularly those with unhealthy lifestyles, are no less at risk.
Also, there's this notion that eating properly means you're protected from cholesterol problems, but it's a big genetic factor, and you need to get checked up a lot.
The idea that chest pain is the only warning sign is also arguably the most hazardous fallacy. Because they are unaware that symptoms like nausea, dizziness, or jaw pain could be their heart calling for help, women often ignore them.
The Future of Cardiac Care and AI Innovations
The application of artificial intelligence (AI) is powerfully changing the terrain of cardiovascular disease identification and protection. Dr. Ponde pointed out a number of promising developments in this field.
In particular, AI-based electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis has shown the ability to forecast potential future cardiac event risk from a single ECG. In addition, retinal scans, processed through AI algorithms, enable evaluation of key cardiovascular health factors, such as blood pressure, diabetes, and inherent heart ailments.
Then there are wearable cardiovascular monitoring devices, which offer real-time heart rhythm monitoring with the possibility of instant notifications to medical staff on detection of abnormality or events. These developments mark a huge leap towards achieving therapy that is both preventive and accurate in the treatment of heart health.
Final Thoughts: Listen to Your Heart
Women need to understand that the "classic" heart attack profile may not accurately describe their symptoms. It can save lives to recognise the quiet warning signals and speak out for their well-being.
As Namrata Hinduja aptly puts it:
"Your heart works tirelessly for you. It's time you start working for your heart."
Women can take steps to prevent and cure heart disease by becoming aware of it and making educated lifestyle choices. In this respect, the Hinduja Family has been instrumental in promoting cardiac healthcare in India through their foundation and hospitals so that women can live healthier and longer.
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