[Blessings2You]

You know, it's pretty scary that warning signs and symptoms of heart attack can be so different in women, and so vague! Shortness of breath is the only sign that would influence me to call 911.

The others--fatigue, sleep disturbance, indigestion, anxiety, weakness, dizziness--what else is new?

I wonder if I would recognize a "cold sweat"?

I mean, how many of us would call an ambulance because of nausea and anxiety? Yikes.

[SallyC]

In the hospital, nurses asked every day, if I had any shortness of breath, dizzyness or nausea and gave me a blood thinner shot as precautions.

At home, I don't worry about it or dwell on it. Worrying about it could bring one on, I think. If I ignore it, it will go away.

[Dejibo]

I have been an anxious mess, full of stress, tummy aching, mind numbing, back hurting, cant catch my breath mess so many times I cant count. Now they tell me its a heart attack sx in women?

I am not sure I would call an ambulance unless I was sweaty and short of breath in an unusual way. As women we tend to shoulder it and walk on.

My last EKG was clean. Wahoo!

[mochagirl13]

They most likely said its' better to be safe than sorry but you'll be sorry once you see your hospital bill if you went to the e.r. and it was gas or something minor. I get those symptoms all the time. With ms, I just stop what I am doing and take a breather. I get my annual wellness visit since it is free and I get $50 for going. I think prevention is the best answer. Unfortunately medicine is not an exact science.

[Kristin908]

Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in women in the United States. Prevention is the best route to take obviously, and leading a healthy lifestyle is the best thing to do to prevent heart disease.

Countries that have plant-based diets have very low rates, if any, heart disease. It's when a country starts to eat a "Western" diet, is when heart disease starts to increase. That's because Western diets are high in meat and dairy consumption, the foods that contain lots of cholesterol and saturated fat.

So you want to decrease your chances of getting heart disease? Eat your veggies and lots of them! Decrease the amount of meat, eggs & dairy you eat. Vegetables, nuts, beans & grains contain calcium and protein, you do not have to eat meat & dairy to get these. How do you think cows, horses, and elephants get their protein and calcium?? They get them from plants!

People think their health is out of their control, and it's not! It is NEVER too late to start eating healthy and doing some kind of exercise. Adopting a healthy lifestyle will not only prevent disease down the road, but you will feel better starting now!

Yay broccoli!!!

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.
Kristin

[karilann]

Try to watch the Dr. Oz show. He covers prevention on this subject a lot and he deals with women. I've gotten a lot of clear, simple advice off that show.
I do know a lady who recently suffered a heart attack without knowing it. Her symptoms were dizziness and shortness of breath quite out of the ordinary for her, but she did ignore it.

[ewizabeth]

My sister had a heart attack when we were shopping together. She was weak, light headed, upset stomach and a cold sweat. She made me drive her to the hospital, luckily we were in a big city with a good hospital. (Refused an ambulance because of the cost.) She has confirmed heart disease.

[SallyC]

Originally Posted by karilann

Try to watch the Dr. Oz show. He covers prevention on this subject a lot and he deals with women. I've gotten a lot of clear, simple advice off that show.
I do know a lady who recently suffered a heart attack without knowing it. Her symptoms were dizziness and shortness of breath quite out of the ordinary for her, but she did ignore it.

UGH, Dr. Oz. You tell me what he says, I can't stand to watch him.