Recognize Heart Attacks in Men and Women (the Signs Can Differ!)

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world. Do you know what the symptoms of a heart attack are? Would you know what to do if you or someone around you has one? Here to explain it all is Dr. Wang Dezhao, Cardiologist at Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU).

What is a heart attack? 

A heart attack is a life-threatening condition where a part of the heart muscle runs out of blood and can die. This happens when the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries) become blocked. This can happen either from excess plaque buildup in the blood vessels or because of arterial sclerosis, where the blood vessels become harder. “Plaque is a normal layer of the artery wall,” explains Dr. Wang. “If there are some blood lipids in the blood, such as cholesterol (especially low-density cholesterol), they will go into the middle layer of the vessel. Over time, cholesterol going into the middle layer of the artery can cause a buildup of plaque. A plaque deposit can get bigger and bigger. If it doesn’t rupture, it causes chest pain (angina pectoris). If it ruptures, it can cause acute blockage, which can lead to a heart attack.”

What are the risk factors for heart attacks? 

Some of the risk factors for heart attacks exist in both men and women. These include hypertension, high levels of blood lipids, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and having a family history of heart attacks. Women have two added risk factors: menopause and having taken birth control pills. 

How do I know if I’m having a heart attack? 

Because everyone is different, the experience of pain will vary from person to person. Most often, says Dr. Wang, “The patient will feel severe chest pain, chest tightness, or soreness in the chest. Usually, the pain level is higher than eight out of 10.” Women, however, may have less obvious symptoms. “Women often describe the pain with another word,” warns Dr. Wang. “Women will tell the doctors that they feel chest tightness or have a sore throat. Some women complain of left shoulder pain, back pain, or toothache. Some people complain of a stomachache. Sometimes, all of these symptoms together can be a sign of a heart attack.”

What should I do if I think I’m having a heart attack?

“If you have the symptoms I just described and the pain lasts for less than 30 minutes, go to the cardiac clinic,” says Dr. Wang. You may be experiencing red flags for a possible future heart attack. Your cardiologist will want to give you a plan to prevent this. “If you feel chest pain for more than 30 minutes, call an ambulance and lie down and try to relax. If you can take your heart rate and blood pressure measurements, you should do so. If your blood pressure is more than 130/80, then you can take nitroglycerin sublingually (under the tongue).” You may have heard that getting a taxi may be a good choice for getting to the ER in Beijing but, in a heart attack situation, Dr. Wang says the only thing to do is be calm and wait for an ambulance. 

What should I do if I see someone near me having a heart attack?

“First, you can address the patient and flick their shoulder and say, ‘Hi, hello, how are you,’” suggests Dr. Wang. “If the patient has no response, you should check to see if they have a pulse. If you cannot feel their pulse, that means their heart is not working. Immediately tell the people around you to call an ambulance (120/999) and, if there is nobody around, you can immediately give the patient CPR if you have been trained in this life-saving procedure. You can do compressions for 30 seconds and then call the ambulance. 

“If the patient can answer your questions, let the patient lie down and not move and then help them to call the ambulance. If they can answer your questions, that means that their heart is still working. If the patient can’t answer your questions and you can feel their pulse, that means that their heart is still working. You can also call an ambulance in this situation,” says Dr. Wang. Try to remember the time of significant events, the patient’s situation, and other important details, as emergency responders may need this information.

How can I reduce my risk of having a heart attack? 

For preventing heart attacks, many of the general principles of a healthy lifestyle apply. Exercise regularly, maintain a healthy diet that is low in fat, and don’t smoke. If you have issues with high blood pressure, blood cholesterol, or blood sugar, make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions to control these. “If you have any discomfort around your heart, you can go to the cardiac clinic every year to evaluate your heart function,” advises Dr. Wang. “A stress test is a good option. You can do this every year if you have some heart symptoms. The reason for doing the stress test yearly is that it allows us to find clues of pre-heart attack symptoms so we can prevent a heart attack from really happening. If the stress test is positive or abnormal, you may need further assessment (CT scan/angiogram).”

Dr. Wang Dezhao is a Cardiologist at BJU. He has over 20 years of clinical experience and speaks Mandarin and English. To make an appointment with him, or to book a stress test, please call the BJU Service Center at 4008-919191.

• A heart attack happens when a part of the heart muscle runs out of oxygen. Strokes are when a part of the brain runs out of oxygen. Learn the signs of stroke so you know when to go to the doctor.

• Has your doctor warned you about hypertension? Read on to learn more about the disease.
  

• What regular checkups do women need? BJU OB-GYN Dr. Jindallae Saphariny explains.