Heart Failure Symptoms in Women
Did you know that heart disease is the number one cause of death for women in the US?
Although it’s started to get more attention, many women still don’t know what symptoms they should be looking for.
Heart disease is a serious condition that leads to other issues later, but detecting it early is difficult. Detecting it at all can be impossible if you don’t actually know what symptoms to look for or that symptoms women experience are different.
What are the heart failure symptoms in women? Keep reading to find out what you should know and what these common symptoms may look like.
Pain in Specific Areas
If you’re a woman experiencing pain in your chest, neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, or upper back, it could be a sign of heart disease.
These would all be considered early symptoms of heart disease that may not even be easily noticeable to the average person. This is mostly due to the fact that these types of pains can come from a variety of things, so you may not associate them with heart disease directly.
When you have pain that seems to come out of nowhere, it may be a good idea to visit your doctor. They can provide tests for heart failure that may help you get an early diagnosis and treat the symptoms quickly.
Nausea or Fatigue
Women that have nausea or fatigue can have a medley of different diagnoses, but one of them is actually heart disease. A lot of people wouldn’t associate these specific symptoms with heart problems, but these symptoms are often specific to women and may be a result of other risk factors.
A woman with these symptoms may also have dizziness or vomiting spells in addition to the nausea and/or fatigue.
Abnormal Sweating or Shortness of Breath
If you feel like you’ve been exercising, but you haven’t, this is a clear sign that your body is working harder than it should be. It can be an indicator that you have undiagnosed heart disease and may be at risk for a heart attack.
It’s best to make an appointment with your doctor to talk about your strange symptoms to see if it is related to heart failure stages or if it is something else entirely.
Other Symptoms That Show up Later
While it would be ideal to detect heart failure symptoms at the early stages, it isn’t always possible. Many people associate these symptoms with everyday aches and pains or uncomfortable symptoms that could be attributed to many different problems.
Some of the symptoms that you may notice later include:
- Coughing or wheezing
- Swelling in the legs or ankles
- Weight gain
- Sleeping issues
- Heart palpitations
- Heartburn or indigestion
You also might find that you’re dealing with anxiety or lightheadedness that you can’t explain. Depending on the type of heart disease that you have, the symptoms will look different from person to person.
Look Out for Heart Failure Symptoms in Women
Now that you have a better idea of what heart failure symptoms in women look like, it’s time to start paying attention to your body. If you’re noticing aches and pains or other strange symptoms, it’s always best to get in touch with your physician.
Many people want to work on getting healthier, and part of that starts with regular exercise. If you want to enhance your heart health and learn some great ways to get in shape, check out the Fitness Tips section of our website today.
