Women and men suffer different symptoms when having a heart attack

Various media outlets have recently published medical articles which suggest that when suffering a heart attack women are less likely than men to experience chest pain.

Gender trends noted

Researchers in the US endeavored to answer the medical question of how common chest pain and discomfort associated with heart attack is in each gender and whether that level of pain then indicates the likelihood of death. The medical records of over 1 million men and women who had suffered a heart attack were studied; links were noted between symptoms, death rate and gender.  The calculated results, published in a medical article, showed the younger a woman was when she suffered a heart attack the less chance there appeared to be of her suffering chest pain – overall it was found that whilst 42% of men suffered chest pain only 30.7% of women reported it.

Symptoms recorded

This excellent large study does much to answer one of the most common of medical questions – does everyone experience chest pain when having a heart attack? Clearly the answer has to be no. There are a number of other symptoms which may or may not be present and which may not cause any pain – these include shortness of breath; sweating and nausea. It is important that there is raised awareness of these other pain-free symptoms so that when a heart attack is suspected medical advice can be sought immediately.  Whilst this large study was able to confirm the prevalence of chest pain symptoms in men and women experiencing a heart attack it was not able to explain the reasons for the differences between the sexes. The size of this study, over 1 million participants were considered, means that it is representative of the general US population experiencing a heart attack.

Women suffer less pain

The study does show that women appear to suffer less chest pain than men when enduring a heart attack, however, it does not explain why this is the case and researchers feel that more research needs to be done in this area. It appears that the heart attack without pain occurred more often amongst younger women than in younger men and this difference decreased as the genders aged. It was also noted that those who presented with no chest pain appeared to have a higher mortality but this area would need further research to confirm that statistic.  Medical advice would also be that despite the results of this study, it is perfectly possible for anyone to suffer a heart attack without experiencing pain or indeed any symptoms.

Recent news reports have reported the story that a large cohort study in the U.S has reported an increased risk of death amongst users of ‘hypnotics’ mediation. Hypnotic sleeping tablets – such as temazepam or zolpidem – differ from sleeping aids which induce a relaxed state as an aid to sleep – a sleeping tablet will cause the patient to actually fall asleep.

It does appear that this study has shown a real and significant association between the two however it cannot state categorically that the drugs themselves are the cause of higher death rates – researchers have been unable to rule out other factors such as lifestyle, smoking, alcohol consumption. The results of the initial study were extrapolated to include these factors but as any good medical article will tell you extrapolated results are not always entirely accurate. This research does create medical questions that need to be answered by further study since its results cannot categorically state that hypnotics are responsible for increased risk of death. Most media coverage did not include full breadth of information gleaned for the study – and if you have read any medical articles which give you cause for concern then you should, of course, seek medical advice.

The reality of the research is that whilst a link was found between the use of hypnotic medicines and death there is nothing to suggest a direct relationship – and of course it should be noted that those who use sleeping tablets will probably have other health problems and thus be more at risk of death anyway. When using a cohort study to find the answers to medical questions a cross sectional study should also be used in order to give a fuller more reliable result. In fact the researchers involved in this cohort study have themselves identified some of its limitations.

• It is impossible to fully extrapolate unknown factors and make full adjustments for every condition.
• Differing medical conditions may account for different mortality and cancer incidence. The confidential nature of mental health diagnoses in the US meant that factors such as depression, anxieties etc. were not taken into account.
• The study was based on the issue of prescriptions – there was no monitoring of prescriptions being filled or if the medication was taken correctly or indeed at all.
• In order to achieve a full result of any connection between hypnotics and death a randomized trial would be required – however because the cohort trial has already indicated some connection it would be somewhat unethical to perform a randomized, controlled trial.

If you are seeking medical advice concerning hypnotics then you will discover that guidelines in the UK differ from those in the US –

• Hypnotics should only be prescribed for short courses to the acutely distressed and not indiscriminately.
• They should only be used when the cause of the existing condition has been established.
• Hypnotics should not be prescribed to the elderly due to the risk of falling.
• The presence of contraindications precludes the use of hypnotics.

With the new available technology we have it is easier for people to find out health information about every aspect of the human body. This makes us better prepared to stop things like heart disease, and diabetes before they take hold of our bodies, and interrupt our lives.

There are many online web sites with vast amounts of medical information on them for you to read. Many people have begun to look some of the symptoms they are experiencing up online to see if they could be facing something serious enough to see a doctor, or if there is a way to determine if the signs they are experiencing are more than likely due to a minor complication.

When people move into a new city, or a new area they can now go online and find sites with a doctor database that will recommend different medical professionals within a certain number of miles from their home. Since they are unfamiliar with the new area this helps them to find medical facilities that are not too far away.

In the old days people cold called offices from the phone book, and hoped they had gotten someone close enough that appointments would not be a hassle. A lot of people use the sites that are dedicated to health information to search for medical specialists like an OB/GYN, or a pediatrician.

Some doctors like cardiologist are necessary only after a person has been diagnosed with a heart condition, so the individual uses their computer to research these types of health care providers in their area. The online medical database of information is quite extensive. You can find out about health related issues, what to expect at your visit to your health care provider for certain testing, and even how to approach a subject topic with the doctor.

Sometimes the physician will tell you they are ordering certain testing to be performed on you, or on a family member, and you feel slightly unsure about what will happen during the test, and what to expect as for as how long it will take, how painful it will be, and other concerns you might have. You can now go online to medical web sites, some of which are hosted by some of the most prestigious hospitals, and clinics there are, and you can research the test.

You can find out all the basic things you can expect during the procedure. You can also discover if there is anything you should do before the procedure to prepare, and if there will be any physical limitations placed on you after the procedure is finished. This knowledge can calm a persons fears, and make them feel more confident, and strong.

You should never substitute advice, and knowledge you can get from the internet, for actual advice, and treatment from a skilled medical professional. The knowledge you can get is meant to help you, and your doctor, not substitute for a doctor. So in that spirit of learning you can proceed in checking out all the health information available.

Health is something that we all take for granted. The general condition of the mind and body are what we call health. It is a wonderful thing to be free of illness or injury. Physical, mental and emotional well being are fields that many have gone into and are professionals. Being informed is half the battle when it comes to Informative Precise Natural health information.

We need to think of good healing and the importance it plays in our life. Good health information is available in reviews and good medical articles. There are many informative websites that clearly define each field and how to get the help needed. The human body is like a machine. If it is not properly cared for there will be a break down. The best way to start with good physical condition is with good nutrition. Don’t be afraid to buy a good cookbook or research on the internet for recipes which have the vitamins essential to your well being.

One simple way to get all the nutrition needed is with raw foods. This is the sure way to make sure the vitamins and minerals are not cooked out. Our life style today does not allow a lot of time in the kitchen. Everyone can learn to make a nutritious salad chocked full of good vegetables. The old saying is that you are what you eat. What you put in the body does matter and will keep you in optimum fitness.

Medical information is available in every community health center. We have choices of public fitness hospitals and clinics with private practice physicians. It is possible to go and find a unique universal healing care program that will be just right for you. In one of the major cities of California they have established programs available that provide specialty care to anyone. They must earn five hundred percent of the federal poverty level in order to qualify.

It is important when you want fitness information fast that you can find it. This can be done through searches in a medical data base. Generally this is free and the questions asked can be answered with professional accuracy. There are frequent updating on this knowledge and online articles to help you with any concerns you may have.

It is a very good thing to have medical specialists. They are trained in different fields that require much more knowledge than an home physician. The training goes far beyond basic medical education and they are up to the challenge. It is always wise to seek the help from a specialist when he is needed.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they will need a doctor. When the situation arises they want to know where to turn. This is when a good doctor database will be helpful. Today there is help for the patients and their caregivers to navigate through the healing care system. The online database will search for the name of the doctors. All you need to do is supply the physicians name, ZIP code and specialty. This database makes it much easier to connect with physicians.

It is wonderful to know that when we need healer care that it is available so easily. Good health and caring health care professionals are available to answer all questions and concerns.

Many people who enjoy good health tend to take their good health for granted and seldom give it a thought. Those who are less fortunate can spend a considerable amount of time searching for helpful online diagnosis.

The advent and growth of the internet has made available a wealth of data regarding our well being. The quality and type of information disseminated on the internet varies considerably; it ranges from accurate and helpful to wildly speculative and even blatantly mercenary.

We have sites with articles written by medical specialists, vitamin companies, natural healers and even spiritual healers. Some sites go so far as to offer an online diagnosis service. You supply them with your symptoms, and they respond with a diagnosis of what ails you. Medical Advice.

In some cases a live doctor will review your medical history, and in other cases a computer program will do a look-up into a medical data base and make a decision. Some speculate that this is the future of medicine: diagnosis and treatment being fully computerized.

The two main categories in healing these days are the allopathic (traditional medicine) and alternative (non-drug and non-surgery). The approach and medical advice dispensed by the different schools of thought will vary according to their respective point of view.

The approach of websites authored by traditional practitioners will most likely be along the lines of a description of symptoms, possible causes of the symptoms and the recommended treatment. The suggested treatment will frequently include the use of drugs such as pain-killers or antibiotics.

The advantage of a reputable allopathic site is that the facts it contains have all been scientifically researched. Medical doctors undergo years of study and have a detailed understanding of the human body and it’s functioning. Also, one can easily locate a doctor data base online when looking for a suitable practitioner to consult.

Traditional healing generally includes all disciplines that are not drug or surgery oriented. Homeopathy is probably the best known of the alternative practices and is highly regarded by many. Similar information is available on a homeopathic website as on an allopathic website, but the medicines prescribed by a homoeopath are natural and much diluted. Also, a homoeopathic diagnosis is holistic and takes into account the mental and emotional as well as the physical condition of the patient.

On websites maintained by companies marketing vitamins or health foods, you would likely find a lot of data regarding nutrition and the maintenance of good health. With today’s rushed lifestyle, a healthy diet often takes a back seat so a vitamin supplement may be indicated. The information you find on these websites can be valuable, but be aware that they are also marketing a product.

Once dismissed out of hand as pure quackery, is energy healing. These days a huge amount of data regarding energy healing is available online, and based on the evidence there is more to energy healing than was originally believed. One of the more well known forms of energy healing is Reiki, in which a Reiki practitioner “channels” life energy into the energy field of the recipient. Although growing in respectability, there is still much skepticism regarding energy healing.

When looking for health information these days, one is spoilt for choice. There is a huge amount of information available, which means that we need to be discerning about what we buy into. Our health is precious.