Common Heart Conditions and Warning Signs for Women

In the fight against heart disease, it is vital to learn the warning signs of the most common heart problems and act quickly if symptoms appear.

HEART ATTACK
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense but most start slowly with mild pain or discomfort.  That's why it's important to learn the signs of a heart attack:

Classic signs:

• Severe chest pain, pressure or squeezing that lasts more than a few minutes or grows away and then comes back
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or in the back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Sweating

Additional signs more common to women

• Fatigue or unexplained weakness
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Indigestion or gas-like pain
• Discomfort between the shoulder blades
• Trouble sleeping
• Dizziness
• Sense of impending doom

STROKE
Treating a stroke immediately is critical for stopping permanent damage or death.  Stroke is a life-and-death emergency. Don't wait to see whether the symptoms go away before calling 911. High blood pressure is a woman's most important risk factor for stroke.  Symptoms include:

• Excruciating headache
• Numbness or paralysis in the face, arm or leg
• Confusion or difficulty speaking
• Nausea/vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty walking, dizziness or loss of coordination

If you think your are having a stroke, chew and swallow an aspirin to thin your blood while you are waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA
Cardiac arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat. Arrhythmias are very common, especially as you get older, and most are harmless. But, if they last for some time, they can become life threatening.

Everyone occasionally "skips a beat." but you should see your doctor is these symptoms are severe and consistent:

• Throbbing
• Pounding
• Thumping
• Fluttering

You may also feel dizzy or faint; you may have chest pain or shortness of breath.

ANEURYSM
Aneurysm is the swelling or "ballooning" of a blood vessel. This happens when there is a weak point in the vessel wall. If you have high blood pressure, the weakened point can be pushed out forming a balloon-like bulge. A woman can have an aneurysm that is small and not causing any symptoms. If an aneurysm is growing, it may rupture and can quickly lead to stroke and death. However, if it is found in time and operated on, there is a high patient survival rate.

Brain aneurysm symptoms that may occur hours or days prior to rupture:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Stiff neck

Signs of ruptured stomach aneurysms:

• Pain or throbbing in the stomach
• Severe lower back pain

Signs of ruptured chest aneurysms:

• Pain in the shoulder, back or abdomen
• Hoarseness/loss of voice
• Coughing up blood
• Dry cough
• Wheezing
• Difficulty swallowing

Signs of ruptured leg aneurysms:

• Pain or throbbing in the groin
• Pain or throbbing behind the knee

CONGEESTIVE HEART FAILURE(CHF)
Heart failure means your heart is unable to pump blood to the rest of the body at a normal rate. When this happens, excess fluid backs up into the lungs and other parts of the body. CHF can happen at any age but is more common among older people. Your heart can be weakened over time by some underlying problem such as high blood pressure, previous heart attacks, infections of the heart, irregular heart beat, diabetes, or excessive alcohol consumption

CHF usually develops slowly and can go for years without any noticeable symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, common symptoms include:

• Sudden weight gain
• Breathlessness during activity, at rest or while sleeping
• Persistent cough that may include mucus or blood
• Swelling in the feet, ankles, legs or abdomen
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Lack of appetite, nausea or indigestion
• Swollen neck veins
• Cold and sweaty skin
• Confusion, impaired thinking or memory loss
• Increased heart rate