Monday, February 16, 2009

Women's heart attack symptoms differ from men's

What image comes to mind when you picture someone having a heart attack? For most people, the classic illustration is a man dramatically clutching his chest while falling to the ground. While chest pain is typically involved, the person suffering the heart attack easily could be a woman. And for some women, the warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack may be more subtle or slightly different than what men experience. Cardiologist Dr. Taylor Weatherbee, who practices at Blount Memorial Hospital, TN, says that women need to watch for any unusual symptoms, which may or may not involve chest pain. "Women who are having a heart attack may only experience nausea, feel a little weak or have a burning sensation in the chest that they attribute to heartburn. If a woman thinks a symptom is unusual for her, then she needs to get assessed in the emergency room." - Daily Times

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