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 had a heart attack at age 33 when my baby was 6 weeks old, it’s becoming more common among women who have just given birth
Hi all. Where to start? Several years ago I went to my local gp complaining of chest pains when i walked uphill..was told dont worry you’re getting older and not as fit…that’s funny as I didnt drive, I walked everywhere. Anyway, I learnt to live with it, til about a year later, having changed gp’s who saw me rubbing my chest as i was reporting in. She didnt worry as to why i came that day, she asked why i was rubbing my chest, immediately i was put onto an ekg machine, referred immediately to a cardiologist at the cardiac clinic, given a stress test (workout on treadmill) and failed dismally lol. Angiogram came next which showed 70% blockages and scheduled for CABG (triple bypass surgery). Basically I had angina on any form of exertion by this time – the public hospital sector is a very long waiting list. I had no signs or symptoms of heart attack, yet the monitors showed significant damage. I guess I just want to say, listen to your body and push to be heard/listened to before it is too late, I ended up having a quadruple bypass for my 41st birthday, which could have been avoided if i had listened to my body and not a dr that didnt know what was what. Even if its just high blood pressure out of the blue that stays high, i had stable blood pressure for years, then all of a sudden it went high and even tho i had mentioned before about chest pain, it was being blamed on something else which should have rung alrm bells for the gp’s anyway…you kind of need to be your own “database” of your symptoms and push for what you think as heart attack symptoms for women are different to men, we often get looked over/ignored. As the advertising on tv here now says(australia) if in doubt, ring an ambulance, they can come out and review you and see if it is heart related. To anyone, no matter your age, if you have any sign of heart attack symptoms, get to a hospital while you’re having them or get an ambulance out, it is not the sort of thing u can just sit around saying i will wait till it gets better…Im sorry if i sound like im preaching, i dont mean to, but coming from the bad run of the mill end of the story i cant stress enough to stick your ground with your gp, or find one who listens or get checked.
Tawnne, Liz, and Alisha
By not going to see a doctor when you have chest pains is like putting a tape over the engine light in your car because you want to hide that their is an issue with the engine in your car! Doctors make mistakes and if you know their is something wrong and the doctor brushes you off then it is a good idea to see another doctor. God does not want us to be in darkness and if their is something medically wrong with your heart then their are ways of dealing with the medical problem. Often if we don’t act then we become stressed as the mystery makes it more stressful but when we deal with it then we have peace.
God Bless
Yes Tawhnee, you should make an appointment to see your doctor. If you have concerns it usually best to go and check it out.
I have had migraines for years. about 6yrs ago I felt like I was having a heart attack after a bad migraine. Such bad chest pains I couldn’t breath. My husband and I were stuck in traffic and he calmed me down and rubbed my hand. he was scared and I thought I was just having a panic attack. I felt better and after our anniversary weekend I saw the Dr. who assured me I was having severe panic attacks which can be brought on by major migraines. well it’s been a long road since then. Many more problems but I recently started seeing a new neurologist. I thought I was feeling better and the medicine was just making me feel sick. Boy did I get a shock when she asked me if anyone has ever checked my heart. Of course I have had chest pains and the feeling of fullness and sometimes it feels like it’s such an effort to breath. But only after or during a migraine. So Dr’s have only said it’s a migraine symptom. Now They are running numerous test on my heart. But scary thing is I don’t o back to the doctor for another week and I have been so dizzy I’ve almost passed out numerous times and my left arm gets achy almost daily and goes numb and my chest hurts all the time. I’ve never had heartburn and that just started last night. I’m starting to get worried should I wait to go to my appt or call now? I’m only 29. But I just found out my great grandma had a heart attack at 30. and I thought migraines were scary.
I’m 44 years old. I had severe chest pain the other day that radiated to my upper back (in between my shoulder blades) after a couple minutes. I have been under tremendous stress for quite a while now. I didn’t go to the ER. I’m still here but I’m still wondering if I had a heart attack. I did go to my doctor two days later. She said I could have an EKG if I wanted but she didn’t think it was really necessary based on the complaints I had – severe chest pain in the center of my chest, tightness, pain radiating into my back and clammy sweats. Huh. I should have had the EKG and think I will go back and get one. It was not a panic attack. It is hard to think it was digestive when I’d only eaten yogurt that morning and that was an hour earlier. I am disappointed in myself for not getting the EKG when I was there and in my doctor for not insisting on it. I will get one.
Have had heart problems all my life, but no doctor can tell me what is wrong. It never act’s up when i am at a doctor. Have had an ultrasound of my heart last year, but i watched my doctor have the Ultrasound FAXED while i was there, there were pages and pages, he just glanced through them in ten seconds and told me that I was fine and sent me home. The lady doing my ultrasound seemed concerned, and during one of my heartbeats my heart got really big(tall wise), she gasped and mumbled that something wasnt right. Also have had an irregular heartbeat for my whole life. Has not been caught though or documented. One of the holes releasing or recieving the oxygen for my heart also became overly enlarged during my ultrasound.
I did not want an ambulance to come because I was trying to relax myself. When anyone else got involved it freaked me out worse. I have not gone to the doctor yet because i just found out today that you should go even after you have one. A different chest pain is returning. A sharp pain. Nobody acted like it was a big deal and thinks i just had a panic attack but they weren’t there as a witness. I have had plenty of panic attacks this was not one. Nobody seemed concerned so I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. I do have insurance though. I want to go today, but everyone where I am is just telling me to set up one a doctors apt. next week. I don’t want to wait.
Alisha, Why haven’t you been to a doctor yet? If you don’t have insurance I strongly encourage you to seek out a free clinic in your area.
I believe that I recently had a heart attack. I was smoking at the time, and instantly began to vomit, afterwards could not stand, felt dizzy and as if i was going to pass out. Heart felt like it was turning into stone, felt no need for air, and began losing conciousness. My boyfriend was with me and he kept waking me up. I could not speak or think was confused and scared. I felt like i was about to die. I ended up calming my breathing and slowing my heart rate. I have had chest pain for about a year and a half that i thought was a broken bone. Now does not hurt at all anymore even if i push on it, which it usually does. Have not been to the doctor and it has been 4 days. I am just turning 20 and my father had a heart attack at about the same age.
Yes I am agreed with that ‘Young Women Can Have Heart Attacks’. In a research that looked at gender differences among heart attack victims, researchers analyzed that heart attacks were far more dangerous if the victim was female. If you love your heart than please take care of it because heart diseases are one of the most common causes of death. Increase your intake of low fat foods. Eat a lot of brightly colored vegetables, fruits and whole grain.
good article and food for thought that is for sure
I’m having chest pain under left breast it’s an off and on kind of pain. About 2 days ago I woke up nauseous and vomiting the next day I felt much better but now this pain on my left side under my breast is worrisome .I do have a heart murmur which I was born with. BTW I’m 26 years old if that helps any.
Thank you Claire, i apperciate your comment very much, i saw my doctor and they want me to stop all medication suddenly so that is what i was must concerned with but i will follow up and stay off line because it is scaring me. Thanks so much for the inlightment, i feel better, i will be going to my ob next Thursday so i pray everything goes well for my next 7 and 1/2 months. :)
Tina, The very best thing you can do is talk to your doctor. Have you been to see an OB yet? Women go through pregnancy with all sorts of additional medical issues every day. Go see your OB and with your medical history in hand she will be able to tell you exactly what your risks are (if any) and the best course of action to keep you and the baby as safe as possible. If what you’re reading online is only making you nervous, then stop reading it. Go to the doctor as soon as you can and hear it first hand from a professional.
There’s a great quote from Tolkien that says, “It’s a dangerous business Frodo, going out your door.” There are always going to be things to worry about, things that could happen. Put those worries aside and have a good long talk with your doctor. I can assure you that you are not the first patient he or she has seen dealing with pregnancy and a history of heart attack. The doctor will know what to do and armed with that knowledge you’ll be better prepared to move forward. Congratulations on your lovely news! I hope that this is a wonderful experience for you.
good evening, my concern is this, i am 30 years old, still taking plavix and asprin everyday and recently found out i was pregnant, looking online it shows many of risk and dangers as if a human with heart disease shouldnt have children at all, please is there someone with a similiar sitution avaialbe to share there story cause now i am scared to continue with the pregnancy if the baby and i are both at risk. my heart attack was on Febuaray 10th of 2011 so it has almost been a year.
If you have not had a echo cardio gram yet that is what you need! They can see your heart. Be persistent !!!!! Don’t quit until they figure what is causIng your symptoms. It could be something else but whatever it is you need to know !! Good luck. God bless you and your family.
Carrie,
The mentors on this site are not physicians and cannot give medical advice for legal and practical reasons. if you are concerned about your health, please contact a doctor, as the article states.
Hello, I am 39 and have been having carpal tunnel symptoms in my left hand. I have had to some minor heavy lifting and now my hand arm and shoulder really really hurt. my next and back hurt too. Does anyone think this is a sign of an attack or maybe I just pulled my muscle. I don’t feel dizzy or sweaty.
Tina and Mama D, Thanks for taking the time to give your wise counsel to Rohini and Mommyof2. When concerned about possible heart issues the best advice is to ALWAYS get it checked out!!! All the information and statistics out there point to women being misdiagnosed more often then men when it comes to heart attacks, and young women in particular getting brushed off because of their sex and age.
Regardless of what the medical issues are, you are always your best advocate. Don’t give up…..keep asking questions until you are satisfied with the answers.
Rohini, I would definitely get checked out doesn’t sound good even if it isn’t heart related, don’t wait 4 someone 2 tell u or bypass ur own gut feelings, go get checked out, I hope you find good news instead! May u get healed, I hope 4 the best 4 you:)
I am 38 and mother of 2 kids.From past 3-4 days i’m too much fatigued,it is like right from the morning itself.as if i have done a lots of work.and also i dont proper sleep ,you can only 3-4 hrs then i am wide awake and feel very anxious.i am also having continous headaches.sometime stomachace and sometimes backaches.yesterday i couldnt drive only.i was feeling so tired that i want to sleep but i was not able to sleep.i cant think right as if my brain has got sturated.I am not diabetic and doesnt have BP.But does all this symptoms sum up to my early signs of heart attack.please advice
Freedom of speech goes both ways, guy. Just because you wrote something doesn’t mean they have to publish it.
Mommyof2: You are your only advocate. That is, unless you are admitted to a hospital. Then, the nurses are your advocates as well. Let me be the first to say they are your best allies in that situation. If I were in your shoes, I would just be persistent. I have been through that same situation before, just with a different (non heart-related) illness. You keep going to Doctor after Doctor after Doctor until you find one that listens to your concerns. If you continuously get dismissed, don’t let that “Maybe I’m just crazy” thought take over. Just keep pushing on until you get answers. It took me about 8 years before I got any answers.
I came here to read about heart attacks in young women, as my mother suffered her first (of 6) heart attacks at age 40. I am 28 and showing a lot of the same symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease that she showed. I just want to express my thanks to the author of this article, as I found it to be immensely helpful and informative.
Hello, I am a 42yr old mother of 9 kids, I look about 28 I’m told;) so when I had my last child on dec 25th 2010 no one at the E.R. Seemed able to tell me what was wrong with me, they said I had the flu! I didn’t go back againfor 2 more months! My family had to force me to go, I was upset becuz no one had helped b4! I has cold sweating, stomach swollen, dizzy, couldn’t eat bcuz my stomach hurt all over! Outta breathe, tired couldn’t stay awake long. I was breast feeding n couldn’t even hold my son 2 feed him, I was scared. When I went in the E.R. The next time I told them if u send me home again, I’m gonna die! They said, we are not, u have fluid around ur heart in ur lungs enlarged heart. I started cryin, I thought I had pneumonia, not heart failure! When I was in hospital finally they told me my heart would heal about a year from then. Its been almost a year and it hasn’t it is worse! I have had 2 be my own advocate, I suggest others do the same after all you know when somethin is wrong its ur body! One of the reasons I don’t think people listen or think it isn’t what it appears 2 be is bcuz I look young and healthy! I get that a lot perhaps that is why it can be so hard 2 be diagnosed! Some of the symptoms I had after my baby mimic what u normally have after a baby, tiredness etc. Plus I thought I had pneumonia not knowing these are signs 4 heart failure. Now its up 2 me 2 be the 1st responder not the E.R. Or DR! If you don’t respond 2 what ur body is tellin u, who is? The Dr and ER only know what u can tell them 1ST! Don’t give up or give in! If you think somethin is wrong get it checked out right away! Better safe than sorry! If you still have symptoms and u don’t feel u got the right one don’t quit til u find out one way or another! Jesus is the great healer by his stripes we are healed! May we all find the truth and be healed! In love!
jpetes…yes of course…I have 2 times in the ER and have another appt. this week. I was seeking information from those with experience in this situation, about what questions to ask, further/more specific tests to request, since the medical help I have sought so far, has been less than informative, and I feel like I am being passed off to the next doctor.
Mommyof2,
As the article states at the bottom, for legal and practical reasons, please contact a physician if you are concerned about your health.
Hello, I am a 32 year old mother of 2 young girls. Over a month ago, I started getting dizzy spells, that would pass afer a few minutes (I attributed this to low blood sugar from not eating enough). Then about 2 weeks ago, I woke up with pain just below my left collar bone and between my shoulder blades as well as shortness of breath. I have been a bit stressed lately, so knowing others who have experienced panic/anxiety attacks, I figured that was probably what I was experiencing. Then a week ago to the day, I was playing with my kids after lunch and had what felt like a hot flash, got very dizzy and nausiated, to the point I thought I would throw up and pass out. Got my girls to their rooms to take a nap as quickly as I could, and started feeling a very sharp pain down my left arm. My whole arm went numb with a pain shooting up my neck to my jaw and behind my ear. At the same time, the pain between my shoulder blades, tighting in my chest, lump in my throat and shortness of breath began. My husband rushed me to the ER, but all tests were neg…they did an EKG and blood work. I was told to consult a cardiologist for further testing as the ER was not equipt. That Friday, I called to make an appointment with a cardiologist and was told by their nurse to go to the ER again…this time a different hospital. As I am not one to make a mountain out of a mole hill, I explained that I already did that and that I just wanted to be sure it wasn’t a heart related problem…asked if it was a possible anxiety attack and she said it sounded like heart distress. I actually couldnt make an appointment before I went to the ER, so I went. Again, negative test results…the only new test performed, that wasn’t done before, was a cat scan with contrast. I have an appointment in 6 days with the cardiologist, but I am still having all the symptoms that initiated my visits to the ER, tho they did subside for about one and a half days, but are back again. I was somewhat relieved after my first ER visit, just knowing that my tests were neg., and thought I may have thrown my body into a major anxiety attack with the onset of my initial symptoms…with that thought, I also thought my symptoms would have dissapated. I am very nervous now that I have read the statistics for young females and misdiagnosis for heart issues. I guess I am just not sure really where to go from here. I do have my cardiologist appt. coming up in a week, but my fear of another doctor telling me nothing is wrong, when clearly my body is saying something is very wrong, is in the forefront of my mind. I am usually very vocal about my family’s medical dealings, I am just not sure how to keep pushing doctors to do more tests, when I don’t know what tests to have them do OR if this is even a heart related problem. Going to the ER is or at least has been, a complete waste of my time…especailly when they tell me they have done all the tests they have the ability to do in an ER…thoughts????Suggestions???
Tammy,
As the article states at the bottom, for legal and practical reasons, if you are concerned about your health or the health of your sister please contact a physician.
Last week my 37 year old sister went to the doctor because of a sinus infection. While there they found her blood pressure to be suddenly very high about 180/125. .In the next few days following she was put on 2 BP medicines and had some control. On Sunday about midnight she called me with extreme chest pressure/pain and we went to the ER. After treatment for heart attack and tests they confirmed it was a heart attack. Other than present enzyme every test has been normal. Any thoughts??? Thanks
Hi, You were not censored because you “spoke the truth” you were censored for leaving almost identical comments attacking multiple authors on this site. If it had only been the one you aimed at me personally I probably would have left it up, but when you sent the same comment to a couple other authors I realized that you were not making a considered comment, or even looking for a reasonable debate, you were simply being disruptive. So yes, I censored it, because it did not add to the conversation and it was combative, which is against our terms of service.
Freedom of speech is an interesting thing. Yes, you have the right to say what you like, but I also have the right not to listen and as Senior Editor for this site I have the additional right, and more so the responsibility, to ensure that the terms of service are observed so that all who wish to participate in the conversation here can do so unencumbered. You were being cumbersome. If you wish to participate in a constructive manner you are welcome to do so. If you have come here merely to badger and disrupt you’ll find yourself right back in moderation. The same rules apply to all, not just the few.
funny this website had to censor my posts…as what i posted was so true ..they could not bare it being displayed
freedom of speech for all …not just the few
Dear Melinda, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. It does not matter what age we are..anyone of us can have a heart attack and you are living proof..it is not an “Old age and/or Old man disease” women must be aware of such and take better care of their total all being (heart, body, mind and spirit)…take good care of your health for God only gives us one body…
On November 8th 2011 at approximately 12:20 pm, I had a heart attack. I am a 34 year old female, I was taken to the emergency room by ambulance. All my vital signs were normal. Three days prior I woke up nauseuous and threw up, I had persistant acid reflux for weeks. If it were not for one doctor who asked my to stay overnight for observation, I may very well be dead today. They drew blood told me my blood sugar was borderline diabetic and my cholesterol was high, they also did a cardio enzyme test which was normal at the time. Later on that evening they redid the cardio enzyme test and it was very high. I had a normal echo cardiogram, they did a cardio catherization, which is how they found out I had a heart attack. I say all this to say yes young women can and do have heart attacks. I was stirring a pot beef stroganoff when I had mine. The one good thing that has come out of this experience is I will now take better care of myself. I no longer smoke, I have begun a new diet, and have gone to the gym, and have decided to put myself first and not allow people to stress me out. This is a true story, it could possibly be your story, or your mothers story, or your sisters story. If you have a persistent acid reflux, pain in your chest that radiates to your back, shortness of breath, go to the nearest emergency room!!!
Dear Doreen23, Having chest pain is not normal and I suggest that you contact your doctor and let them know that the medication that they have you on is not working. There are several test that they can perform to see if it is heart related. Don’t settle for hoping the pain will go away. Seek medical help if it continues to be a problem…heart attacks in women…wether young or old is a serious condition. I pray that you will get the proper help that you need.
Hi I’ve hade this problem with chest pain and they tell me its acid reflex or anvity but the med or not helping me I’m still having chest pain
Tara,
Please refer to the article where we state the following: “If you are experiencing these symptoms please do not wait, contact a doctor immediately for your own safety.” If you are concerned, please do contact a doctor.
im having a pain on my right side under my breast in is going straight to my back n i have a copper taste n my mouth can u tell me is that a sign of heart attack
I appreciate your inclusion of references to the Bible although you have taken those particular parts out of context and misapplied what is being said there. Psalm 103 is a wonderful declaration of the beautiful character of God and how He impacts our lives. David, the man who wrote that Psalm, was described as “a man after God’s own heart” and is often held up as an example of how we humans should relate to God. He does declare that God heals all our diseases but that is not a command to ignore the way that God uses doctors to sometimes bring that healing. David was a great warrior as well and, while He often talked about God being his Shield and fortress, that did not mean that David would not participate in the battle or that he would not make use of the man-made weapons for battle. As I had written in my previous post, it is entirely appropriate to look for God’s healing through medical science as well as His miraculous intervention.
Your quote from Acts 5:29 is also taken out of context. This statement was made by the first leaders of the Christian Church. They had been arrested and put in front of the Jewish court and told not to preach about Jesus. Their response was that they could not follow that command because they had a command from God to preach about Jesus. It was not a rejection of all authority but only of those directives from authority that went against what God had said. Peter, one of those involved in Acts, later wrote, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him” (1Peter 2:13-14) Again ‘me’, to suggest that this statement in Acts is a command not to pursue medical treatment from medical science is not at all accurate. The man who wrote the account in Acts, Luke, himself was a medical doctor.
The stories you relate are indeed tragic. I have no first-hand knowledge of the situations you describe no of the people involved. I cannot say how they came to the understanding that God called them to ignore medical help and only to seek His healing and I cannot say whether that was an accurate understanding of God’s direction or their own desire to see Him do a miracle in their midst. However, there is no command in the Bible that would direct the followers of Jesus to never make use of medical help.
Now I would ask you, ‘me’, how do you respond to miracles when they do happen? Like my friend in college who was given a new ear. What does that do to your worldview that there is no God?
[Comment removed. Actually me, the removal of your comments does not mean that Jamie is in denial, it means that you are in breach of our terms of service (specifically the rules about name calling). - Ed.]
Hi ‘me’, I appreciate that you have some strong views on the issues of the existence of God but it is not necessary to use derogatory language when you respond to other people. It does not strengthen your position at all and hurts the intent of this site which is to help people. You are welcome to disagree with the positions stated in the article or the comments and to present your point of view. But when you start calling people names it inhibits honest communication among peers.
That being said, I think you misunderstand the way that God impacts our lives as human beings. It is true that there are times when God uses supernatural means to impact the choices of people and the circumstances in which they live. So in many cases, when someone is sick, our response as followers of Jesus is to pray and ask that God heals them. I have witnessed some of those miraculous healings. I knew a young lady in college who was born with the inner workings of only one ear. The other was completely formed on the outside but all of the things needed to hear were missing from birth. One evening as a number of college students gathered for prayer together someone felt that God wanted to heal this young lady and prayed to that end. As the students gathered around her and prayed together for healing, a miracle happened. She suddenly raised her head and said that she could hear through her deaf ear. Somehow, God recreated her ear to include all the pieces necessary for hearing. This was no delusion. It was something that her doctor could only shake his head at. He had seen her ear before and after and there was no way to explain it except to say that God had done a miracle.
However, God has created humanity with the curiosity to know and to discover. It is His plan for us to explore things like space, ways to be more efficient at the work He has called us to do, and how to respond to the injuries and illnesses that can happen to the human body. So it is entirely appropriate to allow Him to heal our bodies through the insights that He gives us into medical science. By ‘trusting man and his inventions’ you are still trusting in God because He is the one who has given us that knowledge. The Bible tells us to “share each other’s troubles and problems and thus follow the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) The law of Christ that is being referred to here is “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John 13:34) One great way to love someone is to ease their pain from illness or injury, don’t you think?
So the prayer for Felicity and the instructions to go see a doctor are not inconsistent at all. Both are acts of faith in God who accomplishes His plans and purposes through many different means.
I see you deleted my post as it was to much truth for you to handle :) [Not at all, rather there are terms of service that govern the comments on this site. When you don't follow the rules, your comments get removed. Simple as that. - Ed.]
Felicity ,
that happen to me too. but it happen at my 6 week postpartum. i was overloaded with fluid in my lungs. i had a hard time breathing, and had a full feeling. i went into the ER doctors thought blood clots in my body, turns out fluid in my lungs and heart failure.
Wow Felicity what a scary time for you and your husband. It’s good that you are in the hospital where at least they can do the required tests and try to diagnose your heart problems. I have never heard of this before so would also welcome others posting if they have. In the meantime, we do have online prayer mentors that would love to walk alongside of you and pray for you during through this difficult time. If you are interested just go to this page and fill it in and someone will be in touch with you. http://powertochange.com/discover/need-prayer/
Hi my name is felicity and I am 23years old and have just given birth to my first child. 5 days after having delivered my little boy I wound up in hospital again, thinking that I had the flu. However they found fluid o my lungs which means that I have had a problem with my heart.. After 10 days in hospital and my boy being 15 days old now, we still have no information. they thought that i had post partem cardiomyopathy but have ruled that out.. im so worried about what this is doing to my husband and my baby. any information or similar stories would make me feel so much better.. what should i look out for. Does this mean that i am more prone to heart failure now??
Thank you for you comment, Tiff. I’m so glad you were able to get better and continue to play soccer. Cassi would have never been able to continue playing soccer with what she had, but she would still be with us if we just would have known. She is with god now, but we miss her so much!!!! My prayer is that we can have better physicals for our athletes from high school up to college. Including echo cardiograms. That is the only way to prevent these sudden deaths!!! Good luck to you in your life. Live everyday to the fullest. God bless you, Melissa
I can understand that you would be concerned Brea with the heart history that you have in your family. If you are concerned that the cardiologist is still missing something then I guess pushing for the stress test is your next option.
Having said that however, there is also a place for believing that the Doctor is seeing what’s actually there and trusting that he knows what he is talking about and resting in that. Ultimately the decision is up to you.
Hi everyone. Quite a discerning article! But I like to think knowledge is power. I hear more often than not that it’s hard to be taken seriously as a young woman, generally healthy, if heart issues are a concern.
I actually went today to have my first EKG done to try and distinguish why I’ve been having spasms that include difficulty breathing right into exercise and a quickly yet very elevated heart rate. This seems to happen completely randomly. The cardiologist said everything looked great except a “blip”. He said it’s relatively normal for a young woman, but since I’m having problems while exercising, it may be a concern. I’ve had a murmur since birth. I’m 28, exceptionally healthy and I eat a half vegetarian diet, get my necessary vitamins & minerals, and exercise 5 days a week rather intensely – yet I was a smoker for 10 years until I quit in 09′. I’ve had heart skips since 2005, but ignored them – since then they have gotten more frequent and longer in duration. Some days I feel great, other days just going up the stairs puts me out of breath. My fatigue irritates me on the days that it pops up. I have a terrible family heart history – 5 great-relatives all died from heart related issues in their 30′s! Aunts and Uncles on that side had heart attacks as well. After hearing this, I’m quite a bit concerned. Something is wrong, but not sure what, and it’s very unnerving to know that this is possible even though I’m 28 and a very healthy, active woman – and one who doesn’t have health insurance. =(
Any suggestions on how to push doctors while in this position to take this seriously? They seemed pretty unconcerned, but I might push to have a stress test. I also was diagnosed with bipolar many years ago, and gingivitis/periodontal gum disease that the dentists say is genetic, though I take excellent care of my teeth, and am certain that I have Sleep Apnea (10+ hrs sleep required a night, snoring, twitching, groggy after 10 hours, you name it) but haven’t had the insurance to go in and have a study done – I have read all of these diseases have been recently linked to heart problems. Anyone have any advice? I really want to live well into my 80′s….
You are right Bonnie. It is important to have a doctor that you can trust and understands how you communicate. That is not always easy to do, depending on where you live. Some people have also found it helpful to have someone join them at the doctor’s office. That way you have two sets of ears listening to your doctor’s comments and another person who can make sure you are communicating effectively your concerns and symptoms with your doctor.
I have learned over the course of time, that the difficult part of diagnosing any problem is finding a Dr that will listen to you. I am in search now of trying to find someone to pay attention. I get almost shocking pains in my chest, a lot of tightness in my jaws, and palpitating heartbeats. I too am only 28 years old, but am still concerned.
Hi Melissa,
I’m very sorry for your loss. I played soccer competitively my whole life until I was shockingly diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at age 17. The doctors said I could have died on the field had I not broken my toe and come into the office to get an x-ray. It was then that my high blood pressure was discovered. I had surgery right away and it took a year to recover and I went on to play in College. I am 28 now and still run and play soccer but I know the importance of going to the doctor when my body just doesn’t feel right.