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Women's cardiac episodes often present subtly, warns AIIMS
Heart attack symptoms in women tend to be milder or atypical compared to the classic presentation seen in men, according to cardiologists at AIIMS Delhi. The distinction carries significant implications for timely diagnosis and treatment.
LSN India ·
Women experiencing heart attacks frequently display symptoms that differ markedly from the textbook presentation, making early recognition and intervention more challenging, cardiac specialists have cautioned.
Dr Rajiv Narang, Professor and Head of the Department of Cardiology at AIIMS Delhi, noted that women often experience milder or atypical symptoms in contrast to the classic chest pain presentation commonly associated with cardiac events in men.
The variance in symptom presentation underscores the need for heightened clinical awareness among both healthcare providers and the general public. Women may present with fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, or pain in the jaw, neck, or back rather than acute chest discomfort, potentially delaying diagnosis.
This distinction has prompted medical professionals to advocate for greater education around gender-specific cardiac warning signs. Delayed recognition of heart attack symptoms in women can adversely affect treatment outcomes and prognosis, making awareness campaigns and physician training essential to bridging the diagnostic gap.