Be annoying and save your own life.
Women are programmed to be polite, but getting the treatment you need may require being assertive. There is no call for rudeness, but being an annoying patient could save your life.
It may be hard to believe, but some health care professionals are not skilled at diagnosing women's heart attack symptoms. If you think there is something wrong, don't be easily talked out of it. Maybe it is "just a panic attack" or indigestion, but you should be given tests to rule out a heart attack and not be patronized or have your concerns dismissed. Panic attacks are linked to an increased risk of later heart attack and shouldn't be dismissed either.
Women with the same risk factors and symptoms are a third less likely to receive testing and treatment as men.
While a man who goes to the emergency room usually sees a cardiologist, women are more likely to be seen by an internist or a family physician. Women are less likely to receive tests to detect blocked arteries or clot busting drugs when blockages are discovered. Women are far more likely to die during a first heart attack, but if they do survive they are less likely to get medications to prevent a second heart attack.
On the prevention side, only 20 percent of physicians address heart disease in any way with their female patients.
The consequences are frightening. Be your own advocate. Demand information, testing and treatment. Seek a second opinion if you are not satisfied.
Tips for getting the treatment you deserve:
Know the signs and symptoms.
We all know what is normal for our bodies. Taking something out of the ordinary seriously could mean the difference between life and death.
Women's heart attack symptoms are subtle and difficult to diagnose, even for professionals. If you have any of the following symptoms, especially if accompanied by that "sixth sense" that something is wrong, it is time to call 911 and get help:
- Unusual pain in your back, abdomen, shoulder, neck, chest, or jaw
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing (especially while sleeping or laying down)
- Cold sweat
- Racing heartbeat or feeling of fluttering or missed beats
- Pressure in chest Lightheadedness
- Unusual and unexplained vomiting
A stroke is more than just a bad headache. Symptoms come on suddenly and can cause confusion. Your perception can be altered and make it more difficult to determine if you need help.
Use these five questions to know if it is time to call 911:
Can you smile?
If one side of the face is drooping, it is time to call 911.
Can you say your name?
If speech is slurred or difficult to understand, call 911.
Can you raise your hands over your head or out to the front?
If only one is up, it is time to call 911.
Can you walk?
If the balance or gait is off, it is time to call 911.
Can you see out of both eyes?
If vision is impaired or blurry, it is time to call 911.
A "yes" to any of the questions indicates it is time to get help NOW!
Say it loud and often.
If you think you are having a heart attack or stroke, say it and make sure you are given tests to rule out the possibility before being sent home.
Know where to go.
Know which hospitals in your area are stroke centers and which offer the best in heart care. The American Stoke Association which provides a listing of stoke centers by state.
Demand a diagnosis and treatment plan before you leave.
If you don't feel like you have been taken seriously, ask for another opinion from a different physician or a specialist.
Bottom line. Don't mess around when it comes to your heart or your brain. Better safe than sorry. Better now than later. Better to be thought annoying than polite and be dead or disabled.
Find more tips and strategies in Eliz's new book The Busy Woman's Guide to a Healthy Heart or on her award winning blog at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.