Heart attack symptoms can mask as arthritis, warns doctor

A heart attack is a serious medical emergency whereby the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. It’s imperative to respond to the warning signs as soon as they appear to mitigate the damage inflicted on the heart muscle. Unfortunately, a woeful understanding of the range of symptoms more often hampers this effort.The narrow focus on chest pain can come at the cost of other warning signs, many of which are quite subtle.According to Nieca Goldberg, MD, medical director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, one telltale sign of a heart attack can be easily confused with arthritis, which afflicts millions of Britons.If you experience tingling down one or both arms or legs, it can signal arthritis in your neck, but “it’s important to rule out heart problems first”, the health specialist said to Health.This symptom, as well other atypical symptoms, may crop up more in women than men.READ MORE: Five subtle ‘sensations’ rippling through your body can signal an ‘impending’ heart attack Heart attack: Neck pain can be chalked up to arthritis when in fact it can spell a heart attack (Image: Getty Images)”In women, we have to expand that to include neck pain or sometimes just dizziness and nausea with something that feels like heartburn,” said Doctor Jennifer H. Mieres, senior vice president of the Center for Equity of Care at Northwell Health and a professor of cardiology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in Hempstead, New York.Speaking to the American Heart Association, the specialist said: “Jaw, back and arm pain could be the only manifestation for women coming in, and chest discomfort could come later.”Even then, the chest discomfort that many women report could fall far short of the crushing pain men having heart attacks usually experience and might not seem as urgent, experts said.Just being aware of the many combinations and more-subtle signs in women could be the key to quicker diagnoses and treatment.DON’T MISSBob Mortimer admits he is ‘not very well’ [INSIGHT]High cholesterol: The first sign to spot [ADVICE]Blood clots: Four drinks to avoid to reduce risk [TIPS] Heart attack: Chest pain more common in men than women (Image: Getty Images) Heart attack: Most common telltale signs of a heart attack (Image: Getty Images)Even when their heart attacks were under way, only about one-third of the women in this study experienced the “classic” symptom of chest pain.Instead, shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue, a clammy sweat, dizziness, and nausea topped the list.Paying attention to these symptoms and getting prompt diagnosis and treatment just might ward off a full-blown heart attack.Some men also have early warning signals, with chest pain being the most common.