Women's heart attack symptoms are atypical: AIIMS Cardiologist
AIIMS cardiologist Dr. Rajiv Narang warns that women often experience atypical heart attack symptoms and urges immediate medical attention.
For a long time, a common misconception persisted that women were less susceptible to heart attacks than men. However, recent trends show a worrying rise in heart attacks among young women. Dr. Rajiv Narang, Professor and Head of the Department of Cardiology at AIIMS Delhi, has issued a critical warning: women must remain highly vigilant because their symptoms often differ from the classic signs seen in men.
Why women's symptoms are different
According to Dr. Narang, women frequently experience milder or atypical symptoms that do not always match the textbook definition of a heart attack. While the risk of heart disease typically increases after menopause, certain factors can accelerate this danger.
The risk becomes significantly higher if a woman is dealing with additional health complications, including:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Excess body weight
Recognizing the warning signs
One critical phenomenon mentioned by the AIIMS expert is pre-infarction angina. This refers to chest pain that a patient experiences before an actual heart attack takes place. Dr. Narang emphasizes that any sensation of chest heaviness or discomfort should be treated as a potential emergency.
"If someone experiences chest heaviness or pain, they should consult a doctor or immediately visit a nearby emergency department," he advised.
Crucial diagnostic tests to save lives
When a patient arrives at an emergency department with suspected heart issues, doctors rely on specific tests to confirm damage to the heart muscle and begin immediate treatment.
The importance of the Troponin test
Dr. Narang highlighted the Troponin test as the most vital blood test for detecting a heart attack. Troponin is a protein found exclusively in heart muscle cells. When these cells are damaged due to a lack of blood supply—as happens during a heart attack—the cells break and release this protein into the bloodstream. A positive result for Troponin indicates active heart damage and requires immediate hospital admission.
Other essential medical evaluations
Beyond blood work, several other diagnostic tools are used to assess the heart's condition:
- ECG (Electrocardiogram): Used to check for immediate signs of heart damage.
- Chest X-ray: This helps doctors determine if the heart is enlarged (a condition known as Cardiomegaly) or if there is fluid accumulation in the lungs.
- Echocardiography (ECHO): An ultrasound of the heart that allows doctors to examine three critical areas:
- The structure of the heart's four chambers.
- The Ejection Fraction (EF), which measures how effectively the heart is pumping blood.
- The functionality of the four heart valves to see if they are leaking or blocked.