Signs of a heart attack - How Northamptonshire responds
A study shows many women dismiss unexplained chest pain.
Research shows only 2% of women in Northamptonshire and the East Midlands would seek medical help for unexplained chest pains - which can be a sign of a heart-attack.
A study shows many women dismiss the signs of a heart attack, such as indigestion or stress – which can be putting their lives at risk.
The condition can appear differently in women as opposed to men according to Dr Ameet Bakhai, a cardiologist for the NHS.
He said: “Often women might feel this grippy, knotty sensation that you put down to ingestion. You might get the nausea, you may get the sweating, you may get this lethargy, and you may just feel as if you’ve eaten something wrong.
“So, women will often react to it slightly differently, even though it's the first time they've ever had it and they weren't expecting it.”
He added: “Access to that ECG is the most important thing, because that will tell us that it really is the heart. We can see quite quickly, any signs of any heart trouble on the ECG and get you to the right place.
“I'd much rather people we didn't miss a heart attack then dismissed it.”
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a simple test that can be used to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity.
Only 33% of women feel heart issues are likely to affect them, but 65% believe they aren’t at risk as they live a healthy lifestyle.
The research commissioned by Healthspan Plant Sterol Plus, also reveals that only 57% of women are confident they can recognise the signs of a heart attack in a female, and these can often mimic stress, indigestion or anxiety.
Women are more likely to be sent home from A&E compared to men in published literature.
Many aren’t concerned because they have no history of heart complaints in their family (59%), have regular check-ups to show up any issues (18%), and believe that they are just too young to worry (12%).
The study says, ‘many women also don’t realise that the odds are stacked against them when it comes to heart health and a range of conditions like PCOS, pregnancy complications, early menopause, and even autoimmune diseases all increase their cardiovascular risk’.