Menopause, heart attack symptoms sometimes can be similar
December 5th, 2008 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
How can you tell if the physical symptoms you are experiencing are from menopause or from a much more serious problem like a heart attack? Dr. Jeff Hersh, a columnist with the Taunton Daily Gazette, recently addressed this question, noting that there are several misconceptions about heart disease in women that first must be understood.
The usual symptoms of a heart attack are what he describes as a “crushing chest pain radiating to the arm and/or jaw.” The symptoms often are associated with shortness of breath and sweating. However, he warns, those “typical” symptoms are not so common in women, with as many as 40 percent of women reporting that they never even experienced chest pain during a heart attack, also known as a myocardial infraction, or MI.
Dr. Hersh explains that women most often have “prodromal symptoms,” or symptoms for up to a month before having a heart attack. The warning symptoms include unusual fatigue, sleep disturbances, shortness of breath, a feeling of indigestion, and anxiety. During an MI, women often experience symptoms such as a hot or burning sensation in their back (above the waist), shoulders, arms or lower jaw that is often sensitive to the touch. Other unusual symptoms include shortness of breath; overwhelming fatigue; severe nausea or vomiting; dizziness or fainting; weakness in the arms; a sudden feeling of anxiety, panic or impending doom; and occasionally chest pain and other “typical” symptoms.
Menopause, on the other hand, carries symptoms such as hot flashes that typically start in the face and chest and then become generalized; sleep disturbances, which are often due to the hot flashes; and fatigue and depression. The common symptoms, Dr. Hersh points out, often are played out differently. For example, hot flashes that start all over the face and become generalized may be more likely to be due to menopause as opposed to a hot sensation in the lower jaw.
Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women, so women with any concerning symptoms should address them with their doctor. And if you experience symptoms of an MI, call 911 or go directly to the emergency room. Early treatment can save your life.