"Most people assume that the typical heart attack patient is male so women and the people around them tend to look for other explanations of their symptoms, such as stomach problems.  But misreading warning signs can lead to delays in medical care and worse outcomes for heart attack patients." - Rene Martin, RN, Ph.D.

Differences in Heart Disease Symptoms Between Men and Women:

Women

May have classic symptom of substernal chest discomfort but more often have the following:

• Feelings of breathlessness, often without any kind of chest pain, and waking up in the middle of the night breathless.
• Flu-like symptoms, especially nausea, clamminess or cold sweats.
• Unexplained and overwhelming fatigue, weakness or dizziness.
• Pain in the chest, upper back, shoulders, neck or jaw.
• Feelings of anxiety.
• Rapid heartbeats.

Men

• Sudden pressure or pain in the center of the chest.
• Pain that radiates to the shoulders, neck or arms.
• Dizziness, sweating, shortness of breath.
• Rapid heartbeats.

St. Joseph HeartSmart for Women program offers education, risk evaluation and hope to the women of the Brazos Valley.  Women who participate receive the following services:

Phase I Risk Evaluation (check cholesterol levels, blood pressure, glucose, BMI/body fat percentage, physical activity assessment, waist-to-hip ratio, smoking cessation [if needed], dietary assessment and stress management.

Phase II Risk Evaluation (complete lab work-up, complete history and physical, hormone evaluation, non-invasive testing, baseline ECG, Stress ECG, Echo)

Heart Program Membership (excercise prescriptions, group classes, gym membership and continuing health evaluation.

To refer a female patient to St. Joseph HeartSmart for Women for education and / or information on controlling heart disease please call 979-821-7589