Women aged 35 and older have less clear signs than men, which may indicate a heart attack. Specifically, this concerns extreme fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness. Despite this, women with these complaints are relatively less likely to visit their GP. Two out of five women (39%) don't even contact them at all. This is apparent from a poll by the Heart Foundation.
Chest pain is the most common complaint of a heart attack in both men and women. But there are also other signs that can indicate heart problems. These other signs are more common in women. Unfortunately, women don't think much about heart problems. The classic, most obvious signals such as chest pain and pain radiation to the jaw, arms and back are mentioned by 94% and 88% respectively. Less frequently mentioned are complaints such as nausea (41%), shortness of breath (75%) and dizziness (51%). When it comes to stomach complaints, only 24% think of heart complaints.
“Women, certainly with a heart attack, more often have a different complaint pattern than men. They more often report complaints such as fatigue, dizziness and shortness of breath,” says Dr Jeanine Roeters van Lennep, cardiovascular internist at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. “In addition, women are more likely to weaken these kinds of complaints:oh well, I was just too busy. Or they mistakenly indicate possible signals such as menopausal complaints or (pre)menstrual complaints.”
Risk Factors
Certainly after the menopause, women should be alert to these kinds of complaints, but also to risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. These increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Roeters van Lennep:“I advise women not to trivialize complaints and to have themselves examined for risk factors in time. Go to the doctor, so that you can be treated in time if necessary.”
Dress Red Day
In order to draw attention to cardiovascular diseases in women, the Heart Foundation has been organizing Dress Red Day since 2010. That iIn the past 8 years a lot has already been achieved. The poll shows that more and more people are aware that there are differences between men and women when it comes to cardiovascular disease. For example, that the signs of a heart attack in women are sometimes less clear than in men and that studies and treatments that work well in men do not automatically work well in women.
What women can do:
Be aware of (acute) signals and risk factors. For more information, visit www.hartstichting.nl.
Be alert for complaints that may be related to your heart.
Did you have high blood pressure or preeclampsia during pregnancy? Then be extra alert. These may be risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Is there a family history of cardiovascular disease? High blood pressure and high cholesterol can also be hereditary. Check this out. Over the age of 40:have your blood pressure and cholesterol measured annually.
Take complaints and risk factors seriously and go to the doctor if necessary, or call 112 in case of acute complaints.
