Heart attacks for women

[TiredandDizzy]

Name changed but regular poster - i dont want my husband to know all my secrets if I show him this thread 🤣I want to start by saying I am not having a heart attack but my anxious husband thinks I am 🙄 because I have a weird pressure on my chest and feel tired and dizzy. Probs a virus (though not covid I checked!).

It got me thinking though, what DOES a heart attack feel like for women?! I know it can be different than for men and I thought it's probably a good think to know! Has anyone here has one? What was it like? I'm not after morbid details by the way, more an education so I would know what to look out for in myself/loved ones as we get older. Thanks!

That's good you've got a diagnosis...... and hope you're feeling much better soon.

I have been wondering about this. I use my I watch ecg monitor from time to time. I always have a regular reading.

This week I have been really really stressed out and the readings are all over the place. Some close together and then a long delay.

I wondered what I should do.

I am stressed about work so don't want to sit waiting in hospital if it is not worth it. I might be better to stay in the office and just get the work done.

How accurate are the watch ecg's?

I just can't decide what to do.

Ring 111. It might be normal it might not.

An accurate ecg looks at the electrical supply and rhythm to the heart by placing electrodes on the chest and limbs, a watch cannot do that. If youre having irregular beats you need medical advice.

Any pain with the knuckle feeling?

They won't be impressed with her calling from the hospital!

At least read the op updates if you don't want to read the whole thread!

I think the recommendation to call 111 was for @SkiingIsHeaven, who is having irregular beats, rather than the OP

Ironically women have much more likelihood of having silent heart attacks than men. The usual symptoms do apply though there are instances where some women barely notice.

Look for shortness of breath (more than normal in the case of COVID after-effects), yawning to excess (without poor sleep), dizziness and feeling something isn't "right". Recent advertisements have highlighted that sometimes people just feel something is a little "off" - they can't quite pin-point it, just a feeling.

If you are concerned get to the GP. They will likely suggest a blood pressure machine to monitor because the one thing you tend to see in heart attacks is very high or very low BP (but not always) so they will want to see how yours is.

On a side note, are you anxious? So many false heart attacks end up being anxiety or panic episodes, even if you don't think you are stressed. Of course always get checked out physically before ruling out a medical cause.

Wow! So glad you went! Hope you recover ok x

@Burgoo Op is in hospital now....

No pain or dizziness but just weird readings.

I am away this weekend. I will call 111 when I get back.

Thanks

Wishing you a speedy recovery op, peritonitis is horrid and hospital was definitely the right move for you today. Exh was blue lighted to hospital with what turned out to be peritonitis, taken straight into resus and kept there until they were happy medication was working. He was 21yrs old at the time, I remember Dr telling us that we did right thing seeking help, that peritonitis can be life threatening.

@TiredandDizzy

Glad you're getting the care you need in hospital.

You must be in lots of pain, pericarditis is debilitating.

Op doesnt have peritonitis, she has pericarditis.

women have much more likelihood of having silent heart attacks than men.

Google says opposite is true.

"It’s a common misconception that men and women experience different heart attack symptoms. While symptoms vary from person to person, there are no symptoms that women experience more or less often than men."

• 
  British Heart Foundation.

I had some of your symptoms and took myself off to A&E.Not a heart attack, but numerous investigations later, I do have a mild but permanent heart condition that is now being managed.

Good on you for going.

DP has had pericarditis a few times, usually after or towards the end of a virus/illness. Very scary while it's happening, even though he's had it before, because you just don't know for sure that it isn't something worse. Glad you're ok, OP.

My mum went shopping round a supermarket before I took her to the hospital. The GP had tried to phone am ambulance to take her from the appointment, she refused and went shopping.
She walked into hospital and didn’t come out for a month. Massive heart attack without the ‘typical symptoms’.
Please get checked out x

I'm still wondering if OP was given any treatment or advice.

Well done, OP. The medical professionals do not think people are ‘massive frauds’ when they come in with symptoms of heart attack and are then diagnosed with pericarditis. You don’t have to be lying helpless on the floor to be ill enough for A&E.

Op is in hospital

So glad you went to hospital hope you get to the bottom of it all.