Are women in menopause more likely to suffer from a heart attack

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New Delhi: A heart attack is a condition in which one of the blood vessels supplying blood to the heart muscle gets blocked, leading to compromised function of that part of the heart. Anyone with a heart attack presents with crushing chest discomfort during activity or even at rest. Women presenting with heart attacks present with non-classical symptoms other than this type of pain.

In an interview with News9Live, Dr. Saurabh Deshpande, Consultant, Cardiology & Cardiac Electrophysiology (Heart Rhythm Specialist)—Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai, listed the non-classical symptoms of heart attack that women experience.

What is meant by “non-classical” symptoms of heart attack?

This essentially means that the pain may not be present at the classical site (i.e. chest and inner side of arm), classical pain will be there transiently and then it goes away, or chest pain will not be there at all. These symptoms include –

1. Pain/discomfort in – Arm/Back/Neck/Jaw
2. Shortness of breath (while walking or even at rest)
3. Breaking out in a sweat
4. Nausea and abdominal discomfort
5. Dizziness/lightheadedness
6. Unusual tiredness

Women-specific risk factors for heart attack

1. Menopause
2. Oral Contraceptive treatment
3. Autoimmune diseases
4. Breast cancer treatment medications

Other issues with heart attack symptoms in women

1. Emotional stress is more commonly a trigger in women and is commonly underappreciated in stressful situations
2. Most of the symptoms are present at a relatively older age as compared to men, so there may be physical limitations in getting medical attention
3. Since the symptoms may not be classical, there is a delay in seeking treatment
4. The symptoms may be compounded by other issues like associated anxiety
5. Certain socio-economic factors are also found to be the reason for delayed attention to medical centers in women with heart attacks
6. While evaluating women with heart attacks, screening tests like electrocardiogram may show only subtle changes, which may be mistaken as a minor variation. So, a more detailed evaluation, sometimes even observation for worsening of symptoms/ electrocardiographic changes becomes necessary
7. Unusual heart diseases in women: Heart attack-like situations without the traditional vessel blockages

There is a subgroup of heart attack patients who have heart attack symptoms without any blockages in blood vessels, which is more common in women. Sometimes there is transient abnormal heart wall movement leading to “ballooning” of the main heart chamber called “Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy”. Medicine-related/stress-related situations sometimes lead to the sudden collapse of the heart blood vessel (i.e. spasm), which improves on its own
Blockages in small vessels, which may not be visible on traditional angiography, are commoner in females.

So, what are the signs that shouldn’t be ignored in this heart attack-like situation?

Unusual sweating and/or fatigue with subtle signs of discomfort shouldn’t be ignored

1. Most the households have had pulse-oximeter since the COVID pandemic, which can be used to look for
2. Abnormal increase in heart rate with the above symptoms
3. Low oxygen saturation [alarming sign] with shortness of breath
4. Irregular heart rate [sudden low/ high]

If you own a smartwatch with a heart rate/ electrocardiogram facility, it may detect –

1. Abnormal heart rates [regular/ irregular]
2. Electrocardiogram showing variations suggesting heart attack situation

Any amount of giddiness/ dizziness/ near-fainting or fainting associated with the above ‘non-classical symptoms, suggests a very severe condition requiring immediate medical attention and hospitalization

 A heart attack is a potentially fatal incident wherein blood supply to the heart gets disrupted due to a blockage. But are the signs different in men and women?  Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare