Nieca Goldberg, MD, American Heart Association Spokesperson:
Women's heart disease is different because women are different than men. Women's heart rates are higher, women's hearts are smaller and, when it comes to a heart attack, oftentimes, women's symptoms of a heart attack are different.
ANNOUNCER:
Doctor Goldberg lists several symptoms that could indicate a woman was having a heart attack.
Nieca Goldberg, MD, American Heart Association Spokesperson:
Short of breath, unexplained fatigue, you feel quite exhausted with doing very little. Pressure that's in the upper abdomen, easily mistaken as a stomach ache. Upper back pressure. Fainting can also be a symptom. Women aren't aware of their own risk and we also have data that even one in five doctors don't even realize that sometimes the symptoms of heart attack can be different in women.
ANNOUNCER:
Debra now controls her heart disease with a combination of medications, diet and exercise.
Debra, Heart Disease Survivor:
Ten years ago, I didn't think I was going to live. And I have to live to see my daughter get married and she's gonna kill me if she hears this. But I have a lot of living to do.
ANNOUNCER:
Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily.
