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Misdiagnosis of Heart Attack in Women

heart attack in women

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women in the United States; heart attack in women kills more women than all cancers combined. Contributing to this epidemic is the fact that thousands of American women with heart disease are misdiagnosed every year. According to the American Heart Association, while men are more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease, women accounted for just over half of all heart attack fatalities in 2011. One in every 50 heart attacks is misdiagnosed but women are seven times more likely to have a heart attack misdiagnosed than men, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.

The question is why are women’s heart attack symptoms so often misdiagnosed when more than one in three female adults has some form of cardiovascular disease?

Signs of heart attack in women

According to the American Heart Association heart attack signs in women include:

  • Painful or uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
  • Pain or discomfort in the back, one or both arms, the neck, jaw or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath, whether or not there is chest discomfort.
  • Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these signs, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.

While chest pain or discomfort is the most common heart attack symptom for both men and women, women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms; in particular shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

Healthy lifestyle prevents heart disease

The best way to prevent heart disease is to live a healthy lifestyle and talk to your healthcare provider about your risk factors.

  • Quit smoking: only one year after quitting, a person’s risk of developing coronary heart disease is reduced by 50 percent.
  • Start exercising: walking just 30 minutes a day can lower a person’s risk for heart attack and stroke.
  • Eat a healthy diet with plenty of lean protein, fresh vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Limit sugary, processed foods and drinks.

Heart disease and menopause

While the risk of acquiring heart disease rises for everyone as they age, a woman’s symptoms can become more evident after the onset of menopause. There is also a marked increase in heart attacks among women about 10 years after menopause. It is thought that the decline in estrogen that comes with menopause may play a role in the increase of heart disease seen among post-menopausal women.

If a doctor fails to properly assess the following factors then he or she might be responsible for a misdiagnosis:

  • The patient’s age (many times young people are misdiagnosed).
  • Past heart conditions.
  • A patient’s full medical history and current prescription drugs (taking oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of heart attack).
  • Patient lifestyle (activity level, alcohol intake and drug use).

The Seattle personal injury attorneys at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC have years of experience representing families harmed by medical malpractice, birth injuries and other personal injuries. We seek justice for patients who have been harmed by preventable medical errors including wrongful death, catastrophic injuries and traumatic brain injuries in Seattle and across Washington State. There are no fees or expenses to file a personal injury case as we only receive payment if we recover damages on your behalf. Do not delay; personal injury claims come with a statute of limitations, which means they must be filed within a certain time frame of the injury.

Call us now at (206) 752-4366 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our compassionate, experienced Seattle injury lawyers. We are ready to fight for you.