Most people think of a heart attack as a sudden event that’s obvious because of how they’re portrayed on television or in movies. While it’s true that some heart attacks occur that way, there are some that don’t.
Heart attacks in women are often undiagnosed because they don’t always lead to symptoms that most people associate with this potentially fatal condition. Sometimes, the diagnosis may be delayed. Any miss or delay in diagnosing a heart attack in women can be fatal for the patient.
What symptoms might be present if a woman has a heart attack?
Women often don’t experience sudden and dramatic symptoms when they have a heart attack. Instead, she may experience shortness of breath, lightheadedness, nausea, pressure or fullness in the center of the chest, unusual tiredness, anxiety or cold sweats. She may also have discomfort in the stomach, jaw, shoulders, arm, back or neck.
It’s critical that any doctor who encounters a woman who has any symptoms of a heart attack, even if she’s not displaying the typical symptoms, provides a proper assessment and diagnosis. Significant health problems, including death, can occur when a heart attack isn’t properly diagnosed.
Any woman who had symptoms of a heart attack and wasn’t diagnosed accordingly may opt to pursue a claim for compensation. This must be done within a time limit set by state law, so swift action is necessary. Because these cases can be complex, it’s best to work with someone familiar with these matters, especially because they may need to call in experts to testify about the medical side of the situation.