Women may mistake signs of a heart attack for simple aging.
The heart is an incredibly vital organ.
It is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood from your lungs to the rest of your body, keeping you alive.
Heart disease is a common culprit for heart attacks in both men and women.
In the United States, it is the leading cause of death for women.
Despite its prevalence, signs of a heart attack often go ignored.
Because shortness of breath, fatigue, and nausea can be symptoms associated with aging, many women do not perceive them as concerning.
Understanding signs of a cardiac event can help women prepare for this medical emergency.
So, if you are a woman or care about the women in your life, read on.
Women can often overlook the signs of a heart attack.
Most films and television shows portray heart attacks as being accompanied by sharp chest pain.
Although this is certainly a symptom, most instances begin more subtly.
Dizziness, persistent indigestion, and discomfort in the neck, jaw, or back are often attributed to stress, busyness, or menopause.
One of the most misleading symptoms is fatigue.
When women feel exhausted while undertaking simple tasks after having a good sleep, this can be a warning sign of a heart attack.
If medical attention for a cardiac event is delayed, it could lead to serious damage.
Yikes!
Although awareness of the risk of heart attack is important for getting appropriate medical care, planning is also essential.
In the event of a medical emergency, you may be unable to communicate your healthcare wishes.
Women should create healthcare directives and healthcare powers of attorney to prepare for health crises.
Working with an experienced estate planning attorney enables women to outline their wishes for medical care and designate a trusted individual to make medical decisions on their behalf if a heart attack leads to cognitive impairment or loss of consciousness.
Those who have chronic health issues or live alone should engage in incapacity planning.
Women can easily feel misunderstood or dismissed if they bring up concerns about cardiac symptoms.
By outlining your family history and timeline of symptoms, it will be easier to advocate for yourself at a medical appointment.
Having a trusted individual accompany you and communicate on your behalf can help ensure that your needs are met.
After incapacity planning is complete, primary care physicians should have copies of your advance directives.
When your doctor and emergency medical staff have these documents, they will be able to align care with your treatment preferences and contact your appointed healthcare agent.
If you do not yet have incapacity planning documents in place, you can request a consultation with our estate planning law firm in Overland Park, Kansas.
Ignoring signs like nausea, fatigue, or shortness of breath can lead to a medical emergency.
Chest pain is not the only sign of a heart attack.
Having healthcare directives in place allows you to outline the treatment you would want to receive and designate who you would want to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
By keeping accurate records and communicating them to your doctor, you can advocate for a quicker diagnosis and more effective care.
Although having incapacity planning documents is important, they must be available to your physicians and emergency responders to enable them to follow your wishes.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice on any specific issue or problem. Nothing herein creates an attorney-client relationship between Harvest Law KC and the reader.
References: National Institute on Aging (Oct 31, 2022) "Advance Care Planning: Advance Directives for Health Care" and Go Red for Women "The Facts about Women and Heart Disease"
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