Amazingly, women comprise 60% of all heart attack related deaths in the United States. Unfortunately, for this reason women are more likely to die from heart disease. The reason for this astounding number is that women do not generally recognize the signs of an impending heart attack because they are vague and usually resemble other non-life threatening illnesses. For this reason, women delay seeking treatment as they do not fully understand the risks involved.
While risk factors remain the same for both men and women, compelling evidence suggests that women respond differently than men due to preconceived notions about heart disease, and do not seek treatment as early as they should. Women tend to be older with higher incidence of hypertension, higher cholesterol and blood sugar levels, but are less likely to be smokers. Women view heart disease as primarily a disease of men and never consider that their symptoms could be heart disease related. This could have dire repercussions should a heart attack ensue.
Symptoms that most women report experiencing include shoulder and abdominal pain, nausea, shortness of breath and fatigue. Due to the generalized nature of these symptoms women tend to blame them on something else, not believing they are signs of a heart attack, and delay seeking treatment which leads to the possibility of more severe damage to the heart muscle. In addition, women who have experienced a heart attack also run the risk of having a second attack within five years.
It is disturbing to report that women who enter an emergency room are less likely to receive prompt validation that she is experiencing a heart attack. This also results in a delay of admittance to the cardiac unit as well as receiving life-saving thrombolytic medications. Men however, receive swift and punctual attention. For this reason, women's mortality rates are higher than men when experiencing a heart attack event.
Facts and Statistics do not lie. Past data has shown that women have a higher fatality rate than men. It is time for women to understand this illness more. Heart disease is not an illness associate with men only and women should learn to recognize the symptoms and seek treatment early.
While risk factors remain the same for both men and women, compelling evidence suggests that women respond differently than men due to preconceived notions about heart disease, and do not seek treatment as early as they should. Women tend to be older with higher incidence of hypertension, higher cholesterol and blood sugar levels, but are less likely to be smokers. Women view heart disease as primarily a disease of men and never consider that their symptoms could be heart disease related. This could have dire repercussions should a heart attack ensue.
Symptoms that most women report experiencing include shoulder and abdominal pain, nausea, shortness of breath and fatigue. Due to the generalized nature of these symptoms women tend to blame them on something else, not believing they are signs of a heart attack, and delay seeking treatment which leads to the possibility of more severe damage to the heart muscle. In addition, women who have experienced a heart attack also run the risk of having a second attack within five years.
It is disturbing to report that women who enter an emergency room are less likely to receive prompt validation that she is experiencing a heart attack. This also results in a delay of admittance to the cardiac unit as well as receiving life-saving thrombolytic medications. Men however, receive swift and punctual attention. For this reason, women's mortality rates are higher than men when experiencing a heart attack event.
Facts and Statistics do not lie. Past data has shown that women have a higher fatality rate than men. It is time for women to understand this illness more. Heart disease is not an illness associate with men only and women should learn to recognize the symptoms and seek treatment early.
About the Author:
Barb Hicks is an established writer and registered nurse who loves to share her knowledge about Human Heart Anatomy with others. She has more articles including What is Heart Blockage on Clivir.com.
In the cases of heart attack and cardiac arrest, or any other heart shocks, time sets to be the most crucial factor for the survival of the patient. Sometimes, a little knowledge regarding the immediate actions to be taken may help your near and dear ones to survive in such incidents. The response a person takes to treat a victim decides the probability of his/her survival. Its been my personal experience fighting to survive against a heart attack. A quick reorganization of your bodily responses may increase your chances of survival. Because of having many heart problems, I was enrolled in a concierge Healthcare program from elite health. I was attacked by a severe heart attack in a party, luckily surrounded by many people. Some of the sudden changes in my body was recognized by me and anticipated immediately. I got a very severe chest pain which was almost unbearable for more than a minute. I got the suspicion that I might be having heart attack, and immediately called my physician on the phone, and explained my condition and its severity. Because of the immediate guidance, I was directed immediately to have an aspirin which I used to carry with me as prescribed by my physician. It was quite a frightening experience for me to face such a heart attack, but somehow I managed to be calm until 911 arrived. I was immediately taken to the nearest hospital, where already my physician were present and have got everything setup according to my medical history. And it was in some matter of seconds that everything was in control. A doctor, who already have the complete knowledge of the medical history and fitness of the person, extra ordinarily ameliorate your recovery process. Hence such a concierge level program from Elite health, helped me a save my life, like many others.
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