Study by HLI researcher shows women have same heart attack symptoms as men
Research co-authored by Providence Heart + Lung Institute researcher, Martha Mackay reveals that heart attack symptoms in men and women are more alike than some previous studies have indicated.
In the study, presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Edmonton this week, no difference was found between men and women in the reporting of chest pain, the most common symptom associated with a heart attack, and other typical symptoms, such as sweating, shortness of breath and pain in the left arm. One difference that was found is that women reported jaw, neck and throat pain significantly more often than men.
According to Mackay, who is also a cardiac nurse and clinical research fellow and doctoral student at the University of British Columbia School of Nursing, this research began in 2004 and arose from concerns raised by previous research indicating that women tend to delay seeking treatment when they have a heart attack.
People haven't been able to sort out why that might be, she says. "One of the theories is that women don't seek treatment because they don't understand they're having a heart attack because their symptoms are different."
Mackay will be presenting on this topic at a special public forum on women and heart disease at St. Paul's Hospital on November 28.
To read the Canadian Press article on this study click here.