Ignore stereotypes, not heart attack symptoms in women

It's one thing to accept stereotypes when it comes to the behavior of men and women; it's quite another when someone's life depends on it.

That's the problem when it comes to women, especially women under 55, who may be experiencing a heart attack.

According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which included 1.1 million patients from 1994 to 2006, women having heart attacks are less likely than men to get immediate treatment and are more likely to die in the hospital.

Women are less likely to be properly treated, even when they display classic symptoms of heart attack, according to the study, and both doctors and the patients themselves often fail to realize the seriousness of the situation.

While about 31 percent of men don't experience the classic heart attack symptom of chest pain or pressure, some 42 percent of women don't do so, especially those under 55.

That's especially bad, because heart attack patients without chest pain or discomfort are almost twice as likely to die as those who do have such symptoms.

Women who develop shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, light headedness and pain in the back or jaw, or who develop sudden, crippling fatigue, may be in imminent danger of having a heart attack.

Of course, just because you have some of those symptoms, it doesn't mean you are actually having a heart attack. Experts say fewer than 20 percent of people who seek medical help for a heart attack are actually having one.

But both men and women should know their cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood sugar, have regular medical checkups and not hesitate to seek medical help if they have any concerns.

The American Heart Association offers the following heart attack warning signs:

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 body -- Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath -- with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs -- may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

More information is available at http://www.heart.org