Monday, February 15, 2010

Warning Signs Of Heart Disease In Women







Heart disease has become an increasing problem for women. Mostly this is due to misconception, either from the idea that heart disease is really just a male problem or from a lack of understanding in the warning signs. Surprisingly, the symptoms can be different in men.


Fatigue


Many women who are suffering from heart disease will generally feel a certain amount of fatigue. This is usually an almost out of the ordinary sensation of exhaustion or weariness. Not just as if she hasn't gotten enough sleep (though this is another sign), but it's a real sense of fatigue.


Pain


Another fairly common warning sign of heart disease in women will involve some pain or discomfort. However, this ache isn't your "typical" pain that is isolated to the chest. In women, they may actually feel this discomfort in their back, shoulders and even neck. Some women may experience this ache in their abdominal region.


Shortness of Breath


When a woman is suffering from heart disease, she may also begin to experience a shortness of breath. This particular sign isn't just isolated to physical exertion and may come about during normal tasks and activities. This may also lead to another sign which would be a sensation of dizziness or being lightheaded. It can be a mild to moderate feeling, and it doesn't necessarily need to be connected to a shortness of breath.


Digestive Issues


Women with heart disease have often complained of some sort of digestive issue, including indigestion, nausea and sometimes vomiting. The real key to this sign is more so the frequency than the mere presence. If you are experiencing one of these digestive issues for longer than a month, you should contact a doctor as it may be a sign of heart disease (or some other medical condition).


Cognitive Changes


Sometimes, a woman who is suffering from heart disease may actually see a change in the way they feel mentally, manifesting as an anxiousness or a nervousness that has no root cause.


Change in Sleep Patterns


Frequently, women with heart disease may begin to exhibit a change in their sleep patterns. This will mainly be seen as a disturbance of some sort to their times of rest. It could be insomnia in which the sufferer would have a difficulty falling asleep or she may have troubles staying asleep.








Chest Pain


While this isn't a predominant warning sign in women, a discomfort, pressure or tightness isolated to the chest does affect around 30 percent of females. Of these women, some have described the sensation as an ache or sharp pain; others have described it as a burning or tingling sensation.

Tags: heart disease, from heart, from heart disease, heart disease, suffering from, suffering from heart