How do you know if you’ve had a silent heart attack?
This is a tough one because you don’t. Only an EKG can show whether you’ve ever had a heart attack. That’s why gynaecologists advise women above 50 to have their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar checked every few years. After the menopause, your body produces less and less of the estrogen hormone. Less estrogen equals a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, like a heart attack.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of a heart attack is a sensation of pressure or tightness in the chest which:
- can travel to your upper arms, neck, back, jaw and stomach
- lasts longer than five minutes, even in rest
- can come hand in hand with sweating, vomiting or nausea
The following symptoms are also common:
- Pain in the (upper) belly, jaw, back or neck
- Pain between the shoulder blades
- Shortness of breath
- Extreme fatigue
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Restless feeling, anxiety, rapid breathing
- Nausea or vomiting
Tips
Since women often have vague symptoms, it’s important to notify your doctor as soon as you suspect something is wrong. Besides that, you can try to prevent heart problems by exercising regularly and eating healthy.
Read more: Got a growling or grumbling stomach? This is what it means
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Source: Hartstichting, Margriet| Image: Pexels
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