Think it’s Indigestion? Better Be Safe Than Sorry.

Here are warning signs women can’t ignore – and the gold standard of treatment your heart can’t afford not to get.

For every woman who rushes to the emergency room when she feels chest pain, nausea or dizziness, there's another who shrugs it off as indigestion, heartburn or muscle spasms. Who's right?

The warning signs of blocked arteries or a heart attack can be difficult to identify, but it's better to be safe than sorry, says cardiologist Deborah Sundlof, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. "I would rather send 100 healthy people home from the emergency room than have one person suffer heart damage because she was reluctant to come in," Sundlof says.

Everyone should be familiar with the typical heart attack warning signs including shortness of breath, chest discomfort and heart palpitations (a strong, rapid heartbeat). Less typical warning signs include stomach or abdominal pain; nausea or dizziness without chest pain; shortness of breath and difficulty breathing without chest pain; weakness and fatigue; and palpitations or a cold sweat.

Some of these symptoms are produced by other medical conditions, Sundlof says. For example, chest pain may stem from gastrointestinal disturbances such as gas, acid reflux and spasms of the esophagus. Muscle strains and gall bladder disease, too, can cause chest discomfort.

When in doubt, let your doctor check it out. For chest discomfort, you could receive a physical exam, an electrocardiogram (EKG) and a stress test as screening tests for coronary artery disease. More advanced tests will be ordered if needed.

Please be aware that warning signs of restricted blood flow to the heart ...

• usually occur before the heart attack happens
• may happen days, weeks or even months before the heart attack occurs
• may be mild and easy to ignore
• may be confused with indigestion
• may be confused with sore muscles

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