3 SURPRISING HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS

We are all too familiar with the common symptoms of a heart attack - chest pain, feeling faint, pain (in the jaw, back, arms, neck, shoulders) and shortness of breath. There are, however, other hidden and rare signals of a heart attack. Heart attack survivors reveal three that every woman should not ignore.

EXTREME FATIGUE

Every woman experiences fatigue occasionally. It could be work-related or caused by hormonal changes associated with a period or pregnancy. But when you can't carry out normal daily activities such as doing household chores because you feel tired or experience weakness while or after engaging in some form of physical activity, a heart attack could be looming. And you should be more concerned when that feeling of burnout worsens or doesn't go away after you have slept or rested.

VOMITTING OR NAUSEA

A 2018 study of women who had their first heart attack before 55 revealed that two-thirds of the women experienced upper abdominal discomforts. The most common of these were nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, heartburn and indigestion. Women are more likely to experience these symptoms than men. When you have any of these symptoms, let your doctor know, especially if you are at risk of heart disease - it can save your life.

FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS

A very shocking revelation because we never make that connection between flu and a heart attack. For most women, there is the tendency to ignore flu-like symptoms, which ironically are similar to the symptoms of a heart attack - fatigue, nausea, and body pain. The exception is that these flu-like symptoms may be more pronounced when it's heart-related than for normal flu. If you are from a family with a history of early-onset heart disease, you need to take necessary precautions when you experience such symptoms to prevent a possible heart attack.

Source: Chen, Joanne. "8 Sneaky Female Heart Attack Symptoms Women Might Be Ignoring." The Healthy, 1st June, 2021

Disclaimer: The information shared by this post is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be professional medical advice nor a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician concerning anything you have read here. 

By Nana Ama Afoa Osae I Writer I GreatWonderful Team

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