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OGDEN — One in 4 people in the U.S. dies each year, making heart disease the leading cause of death.
Movies often depict heart attacks as people clutching their chest. This may be typical for men to experience, but for women the signs are not so obvious.
Dr. Margit Lister of Wasatch OB/GYN, Intermountain North Ogden Clinic, says some of the common signs for women are "a pressure or tightness or it kind of feels like indigestion, but it's not that kind of pain that's shooting down your arm."
The signs are subtle and can include back or jaw pain, nausea or shortness of breath with activity. So how do you decipher between the pain of indigestion or a distress call from your heart?
Lister says "if you have that indigestion, take some Tums. If it gets better in 15 to 20 minutes, then that's probably related to food. But if it doesn't improve than that could be a sign that it's related to your heart. Especially if you're over the age of 50 or you're menopausal, those symptoms are much more concerning."
Paying close attention to your body and monitoring these symptoms could end up saving your life. If you are consistently experiencing any of the pains mentioned, make it a priority to see your doctor. Jenniffer is a Special Projects Producer who heads up the Your Life Your Health, Zero Fatalities and High 5 initiatives. For questions, feedback or possible story ideas, please email jmichaelson@ksl.com.
