Research headed by Canadian Martha Mackay, a cardiac nurse, concluded there were no gender differences in rate of chest or arm discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, clammy skin and feelings of indigestion during a heart attack.
She did find, though, that women were more likely than men to experience throat, jaw and neck discomfort. And that women are less likely than men to believe they’re having a heart attack and are more likely to delay getting treatment.
Dr Weil’s take: Doctors tend to treat women less aggressively than men. Women are less likely to receive drugs such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors or even aspirin after a heart attack.
The incidence of bypass surgery and angioplasties are much lower among women than among men.
Women compose only 25% of all participants in research studies concerning the heart.
Dr Weil suggests that doctors and researchers are in need of consciousness-raising concerning women and heart disease.
SOURCE: Dr Andrew Weil’s Weekly Bulletin, August 8, 2013
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