This post was already planned in light of February being Heart Disease month, but it seems all the more timely since a good friend of mine just had a scare yesterday thinking she may have been having a heart attack. You did read that correctly – I said she. According to the American Heart Association:

While heart disease and stroke kill one in every 3.7 men, one in 2.4 women lose their lives to heart disease and stroke. They are the No. 1 and No. 3 killers of women. By way of comparison, breast cancer kills one in 29 women. Source: AHA Website

The thing most women do not realize is that symptoms in women are typically different from the symptoms we have been taught to expect – the symptoms men typically experience.

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath. This feeling may occur with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs of discomfort. These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. Source: Red For Women

Both women and men out there, please pay attention to any warning signs you may encounter!  One in three deaths is a very high number so take these signs seriously!