Male Speaker: Over the years heart attacks were thought by many in the medical community to be a problem for men only. Proof of this is that of most of the research in the 1940s and 50s about heart attack risk concentrated on men almost exclusively.
Dr. Marc Pfeffer: Women were just understudied. We are now making up for those deficiencies and learning that a woman's chance of dying of a heart attack is as much as a man.
Joanne Cameron: I was afraid of dying and leaving my two young children that was I think that most biggest hurdle I had to get over is the fear of dying. I just didn't know what was going to happen to me.
Male Speaker: The symptoms for men and woman are typically different. Symptoms for men include tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, radiating pain down the arm typically the left arm, jaw pain that may radiate to the teeth, cold sweats, heart palpitations and an intense stabbing pain in the chest. The symptoms of a heart attack are slightly different in women. Women are more likely to have neck and shoulder pain. abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and shortness of breath in addition to chest pain. And because of these different symptoms women often seek medical care later than men. There are also noteworthy differences between men and woman in both the causes and recovery process. First women having a heart attack are more likely than man to be older, have a higher incidence of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and congestive heart failure.
Joanne Cameron: It was the most awful feeling because I had always been so active and I just remember thinking am I ever going to be same. Its like throwing up the pieces of a puzzle of your life and having them fall back in a whole a different order, everything changed including how my family felt and how they had to cope with it too, its difficult.
Dr. Marc Pfeffer: I think this is something that we shouldn't generalize and a person is who we taking care of and that person whatever their chromosomes are men or woman need to be working with the healthcare provider to optimize their risk.
Male Speaker: And as with any other condition open communication between doctor and patient along with regular exams are needed.
Joanne Cameron: Know your body, especially for woman if something doesn't seem right get medical help immediately. I value life so much more than I ever did. I don't take my health for granted and I just live life to the fullest.
Male Speaker: The bottom line for men and women know the gender specifics signs that typically accompany a heart attack. And seek medical help immediately and for post heart attack patients be sure to consult closely with your medical team.
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