A Reddit user shared how a female college working at the hospital suffered a cardiac arrest while at shift, and the post, which has since gone viral, highlighted the awareness of the symptoms preceding the health scare, especially in women, and how they are often overlooked.
“Last week one of our admin staff presented to the ED after experiencing jaw/neck pain that proceeded to chest pain,” the user wrote.
“She ended up arresting in front of the triage desk but was successfully brought back by CPR,” they continued. “And is now recovering from surgery to place stents.”
One of the most obvious signs of heart attack which most people recognize is chest pain accompanied by shooting pains in the left arm and shortness of breath.
Secondary signs often include back and abdominal pain, dizziness, sweating, nausea, and a strong sense of panic.
The Reddit user, who is a medical student, wrote in their post that despite their extensive knowledge in the field, they were unaware that “jaw/neck pain is a common warning sign” for a heart attack.
Duke Health writes that this symptoms is largely unknown because it mostly happens in women.
In fact, it is women who usually feel pain in obscure places such as the the neck, jaw and shoulder blades in case of a heart attack.
Women are also more likely to experience general fatigue before cardiac arrest, along with symptoms such as indigestion and heartburn. The timing of these sensations also appears to differ between women and men.
Dr Radha Kachhy, Duke Health cardiologist, previously explained: “If it happens during times of exertion, it should be taken seriously. One of my patients said her shoulder hurt every time she walked.
“She thought it was her purse, but her shoulder throbbed even when she wasn’t holding her purse.”
Dr Kachhy added that women are also more likely to brush off symptoms of different health conditions, including those of heart attack.
“I have patients who experienced symptoms of a heart attack and said, ‘Well, I decided to do the laundry first. When it didn’t get better, I went to the doctor,'” the cardiologist claimed.
“Time is muscle. The longer you wait, the more heart muscle damage can be done.”
Addressing prevention, she emphasized the importance for women of monitoring blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and BMI.
“If you know you have some risks for heart disease, if you smoke, or if you are overweight, making lifestyle changes – like improving your diet and exercising more – can lower that risk,” she explained.
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