Medical Alert....Did you know?

Did you know that men and women have different symptoms for heart attacks?

I didn't. I thought the same, pain in the middle of the chest, numbness of the arm (never sure if it is the right or left) and shortness of breath; were the universal signs of a heart attack.

Wrong.

Women should know the 6 signs of heart attack and why we need to take heed.

Of course the number 1 sign is still chest pain or discomfort.

However, women may have 'fullness' according to the director of Women cardiovascular services in California.

Symptom number 2; pain in our back, neck arms or jaw. Yes, the jaw; so make sure you take notice of the pain in your mouth if you haven't had it before.

Symptom number 3; Stomach pain. Yes, sometimes people think that the pain in the stomach is heartburn. Women will feel severe pain, like an "elephant sitting on their stomach".

Symptom number 4; shortness of breath, nausea or lightheadedness. If you feel like you ran a marathon but haven't done anything; seek medical attention

Symptom number 5; sweating. If you break out in a nervous, cold sweat. This could be a sign. It will NOT feel like sweating after you work out. You should get this checked out if it happens, especially if you haven't had hot flashes before.

symptom number 6; fatigue. Women will become extremely tired for not reason; even if they have been sitting all day or haven't moved around much. This is a sign that you need to have checked out.

The best way to make sure you are up on your health is to have that yearly physical. Set up that physical for the same time, every year. It will get you in the habit of being at that same place.

We will plan for a vacation a year out, why not do the same thing for your health?