Recognising the
symptoms
Not everyone
experiences all the symptoms we associate with heart disease,
and the classic image of a heart attack
can be quite different from the reality.
What's it like to have a heart attack?
You won’t necessarily fall dramatically
to the floor, clutching at your chest – you may instead experience
one or a number of these symptoms:
- chest
pain or discomfort,
which may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, stomach or
back
- a dull
pain, ache or 'heavy' feeling
in your chest
- chest pain or discomfort which feels like indigestion but
makes you feel generally unwell
- feeling sick, sweaty, breathless, lightheaded, dizzy or
generally unwell as well as pain or discomfort in your chest.
Nearly half a million women in the UK
have had a heart attack.
A heart attack is life
threatening. If you think you could be
having one, it’s vital that you phone
999 right
away. Don’t wait - every second counts.
Angina
Nearly a million
women suffer from angina, too - it’s a symptom of heart
disease.
It often feels like a heaviness, tightness
or dull persistent ache in your chest. It may spread
to your arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach – or you may feel it in
just one or some of these places. Symptoms vary from person to
person. The pain can be severe or a mild discomfort and you may
have trouble catching your breath.
Triggers include physical activity, emotional
upset, cold weather or even after a meal.
When you get diagnosed, your doctor can
prescribe medicines to prevent or relieve your symptoms.
The real story
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