help with a simple question about MI's

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

Suebird

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.

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."

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