Heart disease is the number one killer of both women and men and women constitute approximately 50% of these deaths. 

Because women experience heart attack symptoms different than a man, they are less likely to seek early emergency treatment.  Women are also generally older than men when they experience their first heart attack and more likely to have other health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Women need to recognize the early warning signs associated with heart attack, such as:

• Shortness of breath
• Breaking out in a cold sweat
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest
• Pain or discomfort in other parts of the upper body such as the arm, neck, jaw, back or stomach

Most commonly, women do experience chest pain or discomfort but are more likely than men to experience the other symptoms, such as nausea and jaw pain.

If you are a woman who experiences any of the above symptoms, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 if the symptoms do not subside after a couple of minutes.  9-1-1 providers in many communities are able to begin to initiate some treatment for your symptoms on the way to the emergency room and are better able to get you there quickly.  Every second counts and the quicker you receive treatment, the less damage there is to the heart muscle. 

At Florida Hospital DeLand, we are dedicated to exceptional state-of-the-art heart care, as demonstrated by our status as one of the area’s only full Cycle III Accredited Chest Pain Centers.