help with a simple question about MI's

[studynerd]

I am a nursing student in my first year at the University of Reno in Nevada. We have an assignment in one of my classes to join a list serve and pose a question to the group, then follow with research and discussion of our experience on the site. Right now we are studying CHF and related issues. I have been reading how women present with different symptoms when experiencing and MI. What are some of the presenting symptoms that women come in with when they are then diagnosed as experiencing an MI? Is there any common symptoms that they present with, or is it truely random?

[suebird3]

Welcome to allnurses.com!

I moved your post for better exposure. Hope it helps.

Suebird

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

no, there are some symptoms that are specifically common to women that can be missed as not being cardiac in origin. you can read about them at these links.

http://heart.healthcentersonline.com/cholesterol/ - at this site is a video you can watch called "men's hearts, women's hearts" how are they different?" it is a discussion by cardiologists. then, at this page http://hco_heart.healthology.com/focus_list.asp?b=hco_heart&f=cardio you can find a link to a video entitled: "heart disease facts: what every woman should know" (includes symptoms specific to women), "getting to the heart of the matter: women and heart disease", "heart disease in women"

http://www.adam.com/democontent/wci/articles/000012.htm - a very nice lengthy article called "heart attack and acute coronary syndrome". it addresses the difference in symptoms experienced by female patients.

http://womenshealth.gov/faq/heartdis.htm

http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/nov2003/ninr-03.htm - "women's symptoms are new or different prior to heart attack"

http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/109/5/565 - "acute coronary syndrome: the risk of being female"

[MIA-RN1, RN]

I am a nursing student in my first year at the University of Reno in Nevada. We have an assignment in one of my classes to join a list serve and pose a question to the group, then follow with research and discussion of our experience on the site. Right now we are studying CHF and related issues. I have been reading how women present with different symptoms when experiencing and MI. What are some of the presenting symptoms that women come in with when they are then diagnosed as experiencing an MI? Is there any common symptoms that they present with, or is it truely random?

we are studying MI's also and our instructor told us the most common presenting symptom in women w/ MI's is fatigue. She said that they are often brushed off by MD's, or brush it off themselves, and then go on later to develop other symptoms.

[pricklypear]

What a great subject for you to be researching!

Fatigue is a big one ( oh, well, you're reaching menopause, you know, and depressed - here's some Zoloft). Also shortness of breath (obviously you need more excercise, you're "obese" and sedentary) Palpitations (you're very emotional, anxious - here's some Xanax and some Ambien), and #1 - midscapular pain (have you seen a chiropractor? Here's some Lortab, it sounds like arthritis.)

When I first started working in cardiac, most of the women were sent for stress tests, given Xanax and observed, while the men were sent urgently to the cath lab - I.E. taken seriously. Now, at least where I work, everybody seems to get equal treatment, and I see very few symptomatic women being labeled as "panicky and anxious."

[jmgrn65, RN]

jaw tightness/pain sent to dentist. heartburn, nausea and vomiting