Tag: heart attack in women

Menstrual cycle related chest pain. Is it dangerous?

Menstrual cycle related chest pain, also known as catamenial chest pain, is a type of chest pain that occurs in women around the time of their menstrual period. The pain is usually caused by changes in hormone levels, which can affect the way the heart and blood vessels function.

Catamenial chest pain is usually not dangerous, but it can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as coronary artery disease. If you experience chest pain that is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, nausea, or vomiting, you should see a doctor right away.

It can be a symptom of a more serious condition such as thoracic endometriosis or spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)

What are some ways to alleviate menstrual cycle related chest pain?

What are some medications that can help alleviate menstrual cycle related chest pain?

Here are some of the possible causes of menstrual cycle related chest pain:

  • Hormonal changes: The levels of estrogen and progesterone fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. These changes can affect the way the heart and blood vessels function, which can lead to chest pain.
  • Fibromyalgia: This is a condition that causes widespread pain and tenderness in the body. It is more common in women, and it can sometimes cause chest pain around the time of the menstrual period.
  • Thoracic endometriosis: This is a condition in which endometrial tissue, which normally lines the inside of the uterus, grows outside of the uterus. It can sometimes cause chest pain, especially during the menstrual period.
  • Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD): This is a rare condition in which a blood vessel in the heart tears. It can cause chest pain, which can be similar to the pain of a heart attack.

If you experience chest pain around the time of your menstrual period, it is important to see a doctor to rule out any serious underlying conditions. Your doctor will likely ask you about your symptoms, medical history, and family history. They may also order tests, such as an electrocardiogram (EKG) or a chest X-ray, to help diagnose the cause of your pain.

Once the cause of your pain has been determined, your doctor can recommend treatment options. If your pain is caused by hormonal changes, your doctor may prescribe medication to help regulate your hormones. If your pain is caused by a more serious condition, such as SCAD, your doctor may recommend surgery or other treatment.

With proper diagnosis and treatment, most women with menstrual cycle related chest pain can find relief from their symptoms.

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Symptoms of a heart attack in women

Women’s symptoms of a heart attack differ from men’s. Anxiety, fatigue, shortness of breath, and cold sweats are all possible side effects. Symptoms can be confused with the flu or acid reflux.

Acute myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in women all over the world. It can affect not only older women, but also young women under the age of 55. Although it is stated that heart attack symptoms are less common in women than in men, many scientific sources indicate that chest pain is equally characteristic and common in both sexes. What distinguishes the female sex is that during a heart attack, women are more likely than men to develop atypical symptoms (and there are more of them) as well as prodromal symptoms.

What are the symptoms of a heart attack in women?

The symptoms of a heart attack may resemble those of other heart diseases, such as advanced coronary artery disease  or pre-infarction. Be vigilant if you notice even one of the following ailments:

  • burning or pressure in the so-calledin the well – may resemble heartburn, but does not improve with antacids, there may also be pain in the center of the chest ,
  • sudden muscle pain – may be accompanied by inertia of the hands, pain may be in one or both arms, back, neck or jaw,
  • shortness of breath – breathing is accelerated, shallow and it is not due to intense effort or severe stress (and even if it does, it does not subside under the influence of rest and relaxation),
  • extreme fatigue  – perceived as a sudden general weakness (which can lead to fainting ),
  • other symptoms such as: nausea and even vomiting, dizziness, cold sweats .

The most common symptom of a heart attack, regardless of gender, is chest pain or discomfort. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to report unusual heart attack symptoms such as jaw or back pain, shortness of breath, and nausea. So, they might get the wrong diagnosis or not connect their symptoms to a heart attack. 

Early warning signs of a heart attack in women

Symptoms that occur during a heart attack are one thing, but doctors also look for prodromal symptoms that appear before the disease. Dr. Jean C. McSweeney led a team of scientists from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences who looked into the significance of early warning signs. The following are the main warning signs that appear in women up to a month before the onset of a heart attack:

  • unusual, severe tiredness (the most common symptom)
  • sleep disorders,
  • dyspnoea,
  • chest discomfort.

Chest discomfort was present in almost 30% of women a few weeks before the infarction.

First aid for a heart attack in women

Even doctors have difficulty diagnosing a heart attack quickly. As a result, don’t try to diagnose yourself and don’t underestimate the problem. Call an ambulance if you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack. If you suspect someone is having a heart attack, you should administer first aid before calling an ambulance:

  • when the patient is conscious, put him in a semi-sitting position,
  • loosen your clothes, open a window to let in some air,
  • when the patient is unconscious, put him in the lateral position,
  • control the patient’s pulse and breathing – if the heart stops working, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

In recent years, there has been an increase in cases of acute myocardial ischemia at a young age, which is caused by diseases such as diabetes or obesity, as well as excessive stress. That is why it is important to learn how to recognise a heart attack. The earlier it is diagnosed, the better the prognosis.

New type of heart attack discovered that effects mostly women

Despite the widespread belief that there are only four types of heart attacks, Canadian researchers now assert that they have discovered a fifth.

new kind of heart attack
Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

There are typically four different types of heart attacks: acute coronary syndrome (ACS), ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and on-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEM). as well as “cardiac spasm” or “unstable angina.”

But researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada say they have found a new kind of heart attack that affects women more than men at first.

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries is a novel form of heart attack, according to research reported in the medical journal “International Journal of Cardiology” . According to the report, this new type of heart attack affects more women than it used to, but what’s even more concerning is that medical professionals don’t classify it as a heart attack.

The report claims that because this type of heart attack lacks the other symptoms that precede a heart attack, like damage to an artery that supplies blood to the heart, medical professionals do not classify it as a heart attack.

The report claims that this kind of heart attack is frequently brought on by tiny, extremely thin glands that are found in the blood vessels that supply the heart. According to a research report, 60% of patients experiencing this type of heart attack do not receive any medication from their doctors, who instead send them home after claiming they do not have heart disease.

The report says that experts don’t call this kind of heart attack a heart attack because the symptoms are different. The report didn’t say how dangerous this new kind of heart attack is compared to others or how many people die from it each year around the world.