Meemaw is recovering

Because my wife's mother, AKA Meemaw, is in the hospital recovering from a heart attack, I felt the need to remind people that the signs of a heart attack in women is different from that in men.  Thankfully she is doing well and has (reluctantly) agreed to take her meds.  Hopefully if and when she decides to discontinue their use, she will remember her grandchildren and rethink her decision.  (Yes this is a guilt trip if she happens upon this site :P )  Anyway, the following was copied from the American Heart Association:


Heart Attack Signs in Women

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
• As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
• If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away. 

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/WarningSignsofaHeartAttack/Heart-Attack-Symptoms-in-Women_UCM_436448_Article.jsp