Symptoms of A Heart Attack in Women

Women survivors of heart disease often say that they weren't aware of the symptoms of a heart attack before they had one.

Donna Ringwald, of St. Charles, has had two heart attacks. She said both times, she didn't feel the "classic" symptoms of a heart attack.

"You think of an elephant sitting on your chest," she said. "I had no elephant. I had no chest pain. It was so different."

Ringwald is an ambassador for WomenHeart, a national coalition for women with heart disease. .

The symptoms for a heart attack in women are not always obvious, according to SSM Health Care.

Classic symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest that goes away and comes back.
• Discomfort in the upper body including in either or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or chest.
• Shortness of breath, lightheadedness, fainting or sweating.
• Indigestion.

Women also can experience:

• Unusual chest pain, stomach or abdominal pain.
• Anxiety, weakness or fatigue.
• Vomiting and dizziness.
• Palpatations, cold sweat or paleness.

According to SSM Health Care, one should call 9-1-1 right away.

WomenHeart Support Groups

• WomenHeart of St. Louis County: This group meets at _St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield_ on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Desloge Outpatient Center. For more information contact Mary Pfenning at mary.pfenning@stlukes-stl.com or (314) 542-4848.http://www.stlukes-stl.com/
• WomenHeart of Mid-St. Louis County: This group meets at the Heart Care Institute at 1020 North Mason Rd. in Creve Coeur. For more information contact shelly_mailbox@yahoo.com or (314) 494-7404. 
• WomenHeart of St. Charles County meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at on the second Thursday of the month at the Cardiology Center. Visit www.bjsph.org for more information.
• WomenHeart at _St. Anthony's Medical Center _is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in Cardiac Rehabilitation, Suite 105 at 10012 Kennerly Road. For more information call 314-525-4091.