Thanks for posting that, "Rhapsody."

I found out about #1 this summer. I had a mild heart attack at work. I didn't even know it was a heart attack. I went to my doctor the next day because I thought it was a panic attack but was concerned that my panic attacks were manifesting with NEW symptoms. It didn't even cross my mind that I was having a heart attack. I was 36 and a healthy weight. Heart disease doesn't run in my family but I do smoke (I know I need to quit!) When my doctor heard about what happened, she said she wanted to slap me for not calling 911 when it happened. She sent me for blood tests right away. They can tell from the blood tests if you've had a heart attack. Mine was mild. I was diagnosed with unstable angina and had to go for regular EKGs and take baby aspirin every day. I have been fine ever since. The doc thinks it was just caused by a small blood clot. I know that if I ever get those symptoms again, though, I need to call 911 and take an aspirin immediately.

It turns out that most women (including me at the time) don't know that women's symptoms of heart attack and heart problems are usually different from men. A lot of us think that if you're having a heart attack, you'll get a pain in your left arm, crushing chest pain and cold sweats. Most women don't get those symptoms, though. Those are usually men's symptoms. A lot of doctors overlook women's symptoms in the ER too -- part of the reason women are more likely to DIE from cardiovascular disease is that they don't get the treatment they need.

Anyway, here are some of the symptoms of heart attack that women are likely to experience. I think it's important for all women to know these symptoms.

<font color="#880000">Chest discomfort:
Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body:
Can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

Shortness of breath:
Often comes along with chest discomfort. But it also can occur before chest discomfort.

Other symptoms:
May include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness. </font>

My symptoms were light-headedness, nausea, cold sweat and an intense pain which moved quickly up from the top of my chest into my neck and jaw. I didn't have any heaviness or pain in the centre of my chest.

My doctor told me that she had one patient who woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, felt woozy and nauseous and was throwing up. The women thought she had food poisoning, and her husband took her to the hospital. Fortunately, the ER doc she saw was educated about women's heart attack symptoms. The woman was having a massive heart attack and she got the treatment she needed because the doctor was informed and didn't overlook the symptoms. It's important for women to be informed too and to inform their families -- just in case we're not lucky enough to get a doc who's paying attention.