Symptoms Save Lives

On March 9, 2013, my 33-year old sister collapsed in her home and died suddenly of a heart attack. She had no known pre-existing conditions and cardiovascular diseases do not run in our family.  Needless to say it was shocking and devastating to all who knew and loved her.

As painful and traumatic as this nightmare has been, I believe that in times of tragedy we can choose to feel helpless and defeated or we can seek opportunities to learn and grow and do better for the future. While my soul is still weeping, I am determined to raise awareness about this silent killer. If our story can help just one person in the future, then my sister's death was not in vain.

One of the most valuable lessons that I have learned is how vastly different heart attack symptoms can be for women versus men. Everyone expects common symptoms such as crushing chest pain that radiates down the left arm. However, heart attack symptoms for females can vary significantly so it is critically important that women recognize these symptoms early and call for help immediately.

“Although men and women can experience chest pressure that feels like an elephant sitting across the chest, women can experience a heart attack without chest pressure, ” said Nieca Goldberg, M.D., medical director for the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health at NYU’s Langone Medical Center.

According to the American Heart Association symptoms of a heart attack may include: shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, cold sweats, vomiting, dizziness, back/jaw/neck pain, shortness of breath, and/or fatigue.
 
No two heart attacks are the same. Help raise awareness. Symptoms CAN save lives.

Click for news coverage from CBS Evening News about heart attack symptoms in women 

Stay tuned for follow-up posts with tips on how to help someone who shows
heart attack symptoms or is in cardiac arrest.
Every minute matters.
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Click here for the 3rd part of this 3-part series:
Prevention Through Education
Learn what do to if you see someone having a heart attack
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