What are the signs of heart disease in a woman?

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  • Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or upper belly (abdomen) discomfort.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Pain in one or both arms.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Sweating.
  • Lightheadedness or dizziness.
  • Unusual fatigue.
  • Heartburn (indigestion)
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How does a woman know if she has heart problems?

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.
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What are the signs of a silent heart attack in a woman?

This is called a silent heart attack. It means you don't even know you're having one.
...
Four Signs of a Silent Heart Attack
  • Chest Pain, Pressure, Fullness, or Discomfort. ...
  • Discomfort in other areas of your body. ...
  • Difficulty breathing and dizziness. ...
  • Nausea and cold sweats.
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How do I check myself for heart disease?

You can check for heart disease at home by measuring your pulse rate and your blood pressure if you have a blood pressure monitor. You can also monitor yourself for symptoms of heart disease, such as: Chest pain, pressure, discomfort, or tightness. Being short of breath.
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What are the first signs of a weak heart?

Heart failure signs and symptoms may include:
  • Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down.
  • Fatigue and weakness.
  • Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet.
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
  • Reduced ability to exercise.
  • Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged mucus.
  • Swelling of the belly area (abdomen)
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Warning Signs of Cardiovascular Disease in Women - Yale Medicine Explains



What does the beginning of heart failure feel like?

Typical signs of heart failure include: Breathlessness or Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea) When the heart begins to fail, blood backs up in the veins attempting to carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. As fluid pools in the lungs, it interferes with normal breathing.
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What are the two main symptoms of heart failure?

There are many possible symptoms of heart failure. The most common are:
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Feeling tired (fatigue).
  • Less able to exercise.
  • Weak legs.
  • Waking up to urinate.
  • Swollen feet, ankles, lower legs and abdomen (edema).
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What does a small heart blockage feel like?

Small vessel disease signs and symptoms include: Chest pain, squeezing or discomfort (angina), which may get worse with activity or emotional stress. Discomfort in the left arm, jaw, neck, back or abdomen along with chest pain. Shortness of breath.
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How long can you have heart disease and not know?

You may not even know you've had a silent heart attack until weeks or months after it happens. It's best to know what's normal for your body and get help when something doesn't feel right.
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Can you have heart disease and not know it?

Many people who have coronary heart disease do not have any symptoms and therefore do not know they have problems with their heart. As a result, they do not take the proper medications that could help prevent a heart attack, stroke, or death.
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What is a pre heart attack?

Pre-Heart Attack Symptoms – Female

Men may feel pain and numbness in the left arm or the side of the chest. In women, these symptoms may appear on the right side. Women may experience unexplained exhaustion, or feel drained, dizzy or nauseous. Women may feel upper back pain that travels up into their jaw.
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What is the best test to check for heart problems?

Electrocardiogram. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. The ECG reflects what's happening in different areas of the heart and helps identify any problems with the rhythm or rate of your heart. The ECG is painless and takes around 5-10 minutes to perform.
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What happens a month before a heart attack?

Others -- women more so than men -- will experience some atypical symptoms as well, which may include fatigue, a general sense of unease, vague discomfort, back or abdominal pain and declining stamina. Both types of symptoms can be experienced months before an actual heart attack occurs.
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What can be mistaken for heart problems?

13 Conditions That Can Be Mistaken for Heart Failure
  • Impaired Kidneys Can Mimic Heart Failure. ...
  • Cirrhosis Can Fool Heart Specialists. ...
  • Lung Issues Cause Shortness of Breath. ...
  • Anemia Masquerades as Heart Failure. ...
  • Lymphedema Looks Like Heart Failure. ...
  • ATTR-CM Can Cause Heart Failure. ...
  • Bulimia Nervosa Can Also Lead to HF.
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What is the common age for heart problems?

Your risk for heart disease increases with age, especially with people of color and for those who are over 65. While the average age for a heart attack is 64.5 for men, and 70.3 for women, nearly 20 percent of those who die of heart disease are under the age of 65.
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How can I tell if my heart is damaged?

Never Ignore These 11 Heart Symptoms
  • Chest Discomfort. It's the most common sign of heart danger. ...
  • Nausea, Indigestion, Heartburn, or Stomach Pain. Some people have these symptoms during a heart attack. ...
  • Pain that Spreads to the Arm. ...
  • You Feel Dizzy or Lightheaded. ...
  • Throat or Jaw Pain. ...
  • You Get Exhausted Easily. ...
  • Snoring. ...
  • Sweating.
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How do I know if I'm having mini heart attacks?

SMI warning signs

It can feel like an uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or pain. Discomfort in other upper-body areas, such as one or both arms, the back, the neck, the jaw, or the stomach. Shortness of breath before or during chest discomfort. Breaking out in a cold sweat, or feeling nauseated or lightheaded.
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Can heart disease go away?

Treating coronary heart disease (CHD)

Coronary heart disease cannot be cured but treatment can help manage the symptoms and reduce the chances of problems such as heart attacks. Treatment can include: lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and stopping smoking.
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How can doctors tell if your heart is failing?

A test called an echocardiogram is often the best test to diagnose your heart failure. Your doctor can also use this test to find out why you have heart failure, and then monitor your condition going forward every three to six months.
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What are mini heart attacks?

In a “mini” heart attack, blood flow to the heart is partially blocked. Symptoms include chest pain and are similar to those of a heart attack, but there is less damage to the heart. The technical term for a “mini” heart attack is a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).
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When should you get your heart checked?

In reality, regular examinations and screenings related to heart health should begin at 20 years old, with most tests being performed every 2 to 4 years. Such measures can often clue both patient and physician into any potential heart problems before serious health complications occur.
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How do you feel when you have blocked arteries?

Dizziness or weakness. Heart palpitations, or sensations of your heart racing or fluttering. Nausea or sweating. Shortness of breath.
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Where does heart failure usually start?

As the heart loses the ability to pump blood, blood backs up in other parts of your body, including your lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and your arms and legs. The most common cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease, the narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to your heart.
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What are 4 things that can lead to heart failure?

Most often, heart failure is caused by another medical condition that damages your heart. This includes coronary heart disease, heart inflammation, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, or an irregular heartbeat.
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What does heart failure fatigue feel like?

Tiredness, fatigue

...a tired feeling all the time and difficulty with everyday activities, such as shopping, climbing stairs, carrying groceries or walking. The heart can't pump enough blood to meet the needs of body tissues.
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