Video: Heart Attacks Take Different Form in Women

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — Monday is the last day of heart month but it’s never too late to check in with your health.

And when it comes to heart care a sign of concern for a man can be very different for a woman.

When you think heart attack you probably think …

“Like there’s an elephant sitting on your chest, that’s like the classic sign,” says Sherry Elmore with cardiovascular services.

but if you’re a woman that may not be the case.

“Shortness of breath, it’s like normal activities that you could do, now all of a sudden you can’t walk across the room without getting short of breath. It could be jaw pain, it could be back pain ,or it can be nausea and vomiting,” says Elmore.

I know these signs seem pretty common but Sherry says it’s about consistency of pain, listening to your body, and tapping into that women’s intuition that we so often ignore.

Listening to her gut may have saved Darylann Hardin’s life.

“Sat down to watch TV and then all of a sudden I got really nauseated, my head started hurting really bad, sweating, I started throwing up. At first I really didn’t think anything about it,” says Hardin.

But then her whole weekend started to make sense.

“I was at Huck’s and I couldn’t go up the steps,” says Hardin.

and when she tried to go to Market Street…

“Saturday I could not, I was just so out of breath,” she says.

That’s when she knew she was having a heart attack.
Thankfully, she caught it in time, but not everyone is as lucky. That’s why Elmore wants women to make sure they take time for themselves.

“They’re so busy with other activities. They’re moms, they’re wives , they’re cooking, they’re cleaning, they’re working , and they’re thinking I can’t be sick,” says Elmore.

but knowing the signs and listening to them could be the difference between life and death.

Elmore says if you start feeling signs or symptoms check with your primary care doctor. If you need to go to the hospital it’s best to take an ambulance because they will have equipment on board that may be able to help you before it’s too late.

Categories: Local News

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