Yes…Young Women Can Have Heart Attacks!
Not too long ago I was told a terrifying tale about a young woman and a heart attack. The 40-year-old woman arrived at the emergency room of her local hospital displaying a multitude of symptoms that made it clear that a heart attack was in progress - at least it was obvious to a nurse in the ER.
After hooking the woman up to medications to help deal with the attack, the nurse alerted other doctors to the case and then went home at the end of her shift figuring all was well. When the nurse returned to work the next day, she was shocked to discover that doctors in the ER had stopped the medications, told the woman she was simply having a panic attack and sent her home. The woman suffered major damage to her heart.
Unfortunately, many doctors don’t suspect a heart attack when they see a young woman with chest pain. And, while it’s true that heart attacks are more common among young men than young women, women are not exempt . Figures from the National Center for Health Statistics show that in 1998, approximately 11,000 women under the age of 45 were hospitalized for heart attacks.
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When a heart attack strikes a young woman, she is likely to suffer debilitating damage or die. In a study that looked at gender differences among heart attack victims, researchers found that heart attacks were far more likely to be deadly if the victim was female. In fact, when Dr. Viola Vaccarino and her colleagues looked only at patients under age 50, they found that twice as many women as men died in the days following a heart attack.
Part of the explanation for this frightening statistic is that young women with heart attacks often get either no treatment or they receive delayed care. Sometimes women, and sometimes their doctors, miss the attack because they don’t realize that the symptoms of a heart attack may vary with the patient’s gender, says Vaccarino, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Medicine. Compared to men, during a heart attack women are much more likely to experience back pain, indigestion and nausea and/or vomiting, rather than chest pain, as their symptoms, according to an earlier study by Vaccarino.
And while the bigger teaching hospitals are beginning to catch on, it’s still not uncommon for doctors at smaller institutions to miss heart attacks in younger women, says Dr. Marianne Legato, founder and director of The Partnership for Women’s Health and a professor of clinical medicine at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. Legato recently reviewed the records for a young woman in her 20s who showed up at a hospital complaining of nausea and vomiting, as well as chest pain. The possibility that the woman might be having a heart attack never occurred to the doctors examining her. She was dead within 48 hours.
When Vaccarino and her colleagues looked at death rates from heart attacks in young people, they found that misdiagnosis and delays in medical care could only explain part of the discrepancy between men and women. This is an area that needs further research, she says.
But, while doctors are at a loss to explain why heart attacks occur in otherwise healthy young women, they have pinpointed a group who are at an elevated risk. Women who smoke, are obese, have diabetes and/or high blood pressure are more likely than others to have a heart attack, Legato says. “And diabetes is a much more important risk factor for women than men,” she adds. “Once you have it, your risk for [heart disease] is four to six times higher.”
Ultimately, women need to know the signs of a heart attack and demand proper care if they think they may be having one. If you have risk factors for a heart attack, no matter whether you are in your 20s or 30s or 40s, and you feel you are experiencing a heart attack, don’t allow the doctor to dismiss your symptoms as indigestion or anxiety. Tell them you want to be tested. If you don’t, the consequences could be deadly.
The following symptoms could signal heart ills:
- Angina (chest pain). Can also include back pain or deep aching and throbbing in the left or right bicep or forearm.
- Breathlessness. Also may include waking up having difficulty catching one’s breath.
- Clammy perspiration.
- Dizziness. Unexplained lightheadedness, even blackouts.
- Edema. Swelling, particularly of the ankles or lower legs.
- Fluttering. Rapid heartbeats.
- Gastric upset (or nausea).
- Heavy fullness. Also may include pressure-like chest pain between breasts and radiating to left arm or shoulder.
If you are experiencing these symptoms please do not wait, contact a doctor immediately for your own safety.
Sources: ACOG/Medical Tribune News Service
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I am 35 year old mother of 2. I have an amazing husband, beautiful kiddos and even a bonus daughter I got three years ago when we married. I include this because at the hospital last week the doctors had the nerve to ask me if my husband was nice to me, if we were in a happy marriage and blah blah blah. I recieved a pacemaker at 25, and I have been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse. I have been having chest pain that radiates into my neck and left arm, shortness of breath, and dizzy spells. I was told in the er I would need an echo and other tests to rule out a heart attack. They did and EKG and blood work, kept me over night and sent me home. I am so fatigued and out of breath I an barely teach my fourth graders much less be a good mommy and wife. I have seen cardiologist again and new dr today. They say they don’t know what’s wrong. I am out of breath typing. My hospital records show my EKG as abnormal. It says my right atrium is enlarged and a heart attack cannot be ruled out. Now dr is out of town and nurse says go to er if it gets worse. What do I do?? Any ideas? The comments on this page made me angry for the women who get blown off but I feel better reading that I am not alone. I am praying for each of you! Any advice is welcome. Thank you for sharing and letting me share!!
I will be 26 in April, and have suffered from cronic migraines since I can remember. Over the years they have subsided andevolved mostly now are tension headaches. I just watched the Dr.Oz episode on women and heart Disease. I can say yes to ALL signs. Yet, before I would relate each symptom to other reasons. I have had heart flutters very randomly since high school. They occur mostly at rest, and sometimes so strong, it feels like my breath is being sucked out of my lungs. Its only 10-15seconds but rather notacible. I had my son 3yrs ago and during one of my visits, I mentioned it. They just said the only way we can monitor it to see what is really going on, is to have a monitor set on me for one night and hope it happens. But its SO random, it seems impossible to catch! Then theres, SOB, which I can relate to lack of excercise and weight gain after my csection. Then the fatigue and dizziness. I had a spell 2yrs ago now that sent me to ER concerned. I woke up just dizzy. No nausea, just spinning like I was drunk, lasting all day. They just sent me home with meds to treat the spinning. (Not the cause) I now wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, ever since pregnancy, and 8 am allways unstable. But I just woke up, right? Then jaw, neck & shoulder pain….ALLWAYS! I have poor sleep habits, so Im thinking thats why. I never experienced the muscles in my jaw line until a massage several years ago, this lady caressed my face and jaw rather gently. Next day i was sore. I have been more aware of it ever since. I notice knots and lock-jaw-like symptoms. Ive asked my dentist, not concerned. Before pregnancy I was rather active, yet still a little over weight. Since my cesection, I cant ‘stomache’ excercise like I use to. Just up the stairs winds me. I can go out and dance still. So I dont know if all is related or just happens to be caused for different reasons. But the Heart flutters is definate concern. Ive had basic blood work and ekg but I feel like maybe theres more. Hummmm… What to do?
It is always the right choice to seek help from a doctor and continue to pursue it until you are comfortable with the information that you have received. The stress from uncertainty will only exacerbate any existing health problems. If you do not understand what your doctor has said or don’t feel that all of the options have been explored keeping pressing to find out why your doctor is not concerned by the things that concern you. If that means finding a new doctor do that. I know that there are people who over dramatize health concerns and create their symptoms in their mind, but that is a rare situation. Likely you are not that person. Press your doctor to do further tests or get him to explain why he does not feel they are necessary.
Hi Cystal, I was 29 when I had my heart attack, it will be a year on feb 10th, I was having pain on the right side of my neck and shortness of breath, my symptons was not the typical chest pains, heavy on the chest. In women are symptoms are can be flu like and can easily be passed over, my advise is to go to your doctor again and let him or her know what kind of symptoms your having, I believe everything is fine since your test came back ok but always listen to your body, it will tell you when something is wrong, I knew something was wrong for a month but ignored it so just make sure your are taking care of yourself.
I am 29 I have smoked for 17 years I have been having chest pain for the last year I have had blood tests and 2 ekgs everything was normal last night my heart started beating so hard and fast for no reason I was sitting down I also have anxiety after my heart slowed I got such a bad migrane was wondering if it was a heart thing or not today I have been having light pain under my left breast any input would be appreciated thank you
Im a 25 yr old female passed the ecg and stress test but ultrasound showed that one if my ventricles it is it is thickening and enlarged pumping harder.im overweight have pcos and this is a sign of early heart diease so watch out
When I had my heart attack at 33 after having my son (he was 6 weeks at the time) all of my ekg’s were normal, they only knew because of a blood test that shows rising levels of triponin (chemical released when you have a heart attack). I would demand one of these blood tests if your ekg is clean and you are having chest pains.
Hi, I’m 28 and a mother of 3. Over the past year, I have been having pain in the center of my chest, more like squeezing tightness, and I have times where I feel extremely tired and almost like I’m in low blood sugar. My tests came back normal. I have recently experienced swelling in my ankles and hands. I’m not sure what I should do because when I told my doctor how I felt, they did an ECG and said it was fine and that I was stressed. I didn’t know stress could cause edema. What are your thoughts? I appreciate the input.
Hi im a 23year old female and i have an 3 year old daughter and ive been to the hospital n all types of heart docoters because ive been having chest pains and all they keep tellin me is that I have anxity n panic attacks cuz I done had ever test there is to have done on my heart but it still feels like something is wrong please help me and tell me what should I do