NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT — A new Yale study indicates that women suffering from heart attack symptoms are less likely to have it diagnosed properly, leading to serious problems.
Heart attacks occur when blood flow to the heart is cut off, often due to arterial blockage, which then results in tissue death or damage, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in the U.S., heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, accounting for 1 in every 4 female deaths.
The study led by the Yale School of Public Health analyzed data from 2,009 female and 976 male heart attack patients aged 18 to 55. Findings show that 53% of women who sought help prior to hospitalization were told their symptoms weren't heart-related, compared to only 37% of men.
Ninety percent of men and women reported having chest pains, but women often had extra symptoms like indigestion, heart palpitations, and pain the jaw, neck, and arms.
Instead of attributing their symptoms to muscle pain, the women were more likely to chalk it up to stress and anxiety.
They also had multiple risk factors for heart disease, which suggests doctors should do more to rule out a heart attack when presented with such cases.
