Every 90 Seconds in the US, a Woman.....

Women are twice as likely as men to experience nausea, vomiting, or indigestion during their heart attack.  These feelings are often written off as having a less serious cause.  Remember, nausea and vomiting may be signs that something is seriously wrong, especially if you also have other symptoms. 

There is a national public campaign that aims to educate, engage, and empower women and their families to learn the seven most common symptoms of a heart attack and encourage them to call 9-1-1 as soon as those symptoms arise.  A woman suffers a heart attack every 90 seconds in the United States.  Yet according to a 2009 American Heart Association survey only half of women indicated they would call 9-1-1 if they thought they were having a heart attack and few were aware of the most common heart attack symptoms.  

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Know the Symptoms of a Heart Attack

Chest pain or discomfort unusually heavy pressure on the chest, like there's a ton of weight on you. Most heart attacks involve chest pain or discomfort in the center or left side of the chest. It usually lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.  It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.  It may even feel like heartburn or indigestion.

Sharp upper body pain can also occur in the neck, back, and jaw.  This symptom can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or upper part of stomach (not below the belly button).  Pain in the back, neck, or jaw is a more common heart attack symptom for women than it is for men.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309