By Alexandria Gomez, prevention
"I was having a heart attack
and didn't even know it." We hear this line over and over again and if
you've never experienced a cardiac event, you might think, really?
But it's true—the signs of a heart attack, or any heart problem, are
often sneaky and subtle. They strike when you're least expecting it—and
young women are not immune.
[post_ads]"Heart attacks are most common in women 10 years post-menopause," says cardiologist Nieca Goldberg,
MD, medical director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health at
NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. "However, approximately
30,000 women under the age of 50 suffer from heart disease." (Want to
pick up healthier habits? Sign up to get smart health advice delivered straight to your inbox.)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
most recent statistics, heart disease is the leading cause of death for
women over 35, accounting for 1 in every 4 deaths. And it's common for
symptoms of heart disease to go unnoticed or to be dismissed, especially
among younger women, says Goldberg. Here are a few you should look out
for:
Swollen legs or ankles
That extra-large burrito may not be the only
reason you're feeling super bloated. While leg bloating can result from
all kinds of things, it can also be caused by a heart valve problem. A
build up of fluids (aka edema) is a common symptom of congestive heart
failure, when your heart is unable to process blood in and out at the
proper rate, says Goldberg.
Before you freak out, know that this type of swelling, in contrast to run-of-the-mill bloating,
will get worse with time and/or begin creeping further up your body. So
if the swelling reaches that point of severity, you know it's time to
call a doctor.
Headaches
Before you pop a Tylenol and shrug off that head pain, know that severe headaches can
be symptomatic of a stroke or blood clot, too, says Goldenberg. While a
headache alone isn't necessarily indicative of a heart issue, if you're
experiencing it along with other symptoms like stiffness in your neck,
fatigue, or dizziness, or it comes on suddenly, you could be in danger
of an aneurysm and should seek medical attention.
Exhaustion
This might be the hardest sign to decipher because there are a million reasons you might feel tired—lack of sleep,
stress, etc. But here we're talking an abnormal level of fatigue. "If
you're relatively fit and all of a sudden start feeling winded climbing a
flight of stairs, there's a problem," says Goldberg. Another sign: If
you're feeling a level of weakness that you'd previously only
experienced when sick with the flu. In this case, your heart may be
struggling to oxygenate your body.
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While this symptom is easy to dismiss, particularly for women who
refuse to slow down, it should be a red flag if you're experiencing it
along with any other strange symptoms.
Stomach cramping
Many people assume heart pain is felt
directly in the chest, or in the left arm, says Goldberg. But what some
don't realize is that the pain can radiate elsewhere in the body, too.
"It's not uncommon that I see people complaining of stomach pain, when really the issue is their heart," she says.
When you're feeling those sharp stomach cramps, it's possible that
your heart is radiating pain signals to your stomach. Although this
could also indicate the flu or heartburn, Goldberg says if it's something you've never felt before, go to a doctor just to be sure.
Fainting
[post_ads]Fainting is the result of a drop in blood pressure,
and that can be brought on by a number of things from changes in
posture (think: that rush to the head you get when you get out of bed
too fast) to which medications you're taking. But it could also be
indicative of a more serious issue. A valve disorder that doesn't allow
proper blood flow, a too slow or too fast heartbeat, or an aortic tear
could all be the cause for fainting, says Goldberg.
If you faint in an isolated incident, it probably isn't cause for
concern. On the other hand, you should consider seeing a doctor if
you're fainting persistently or have fainted and are experiencing
additional symptoms.
Dizziness
Like many of these symptoms, occasional
dizziness is not a cause for concern. That light-headed feeling could
result from standing up too quickly, dehydration,
etc. But if the dizziness persists, that's when it's time to see a
doctor. If the problem is your heart, it's likely due to artery
blockages or valve issues messing with your blood pressure, says
Goldberg.
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Upper back pressure
Again, a heart attack isn't always felt in
the heart. Often patients say a heart attack feels like there's an
elephant sitting on their chest; but
that elephant could also be on your upper back, says Goldberg. If
you're feeling an overwhelming amount of pressure on your upper back,
that could be a sign of a heart attack.
