Study: Women more likely to have heart attack without chest pain

A recent study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that women are more likely than men to present to the hospital for a heart attack without having experienced chest pain or discomfort.

Researchers looked at the medical records of roughly 1.1 million heart attack patients that were included in a national database. The records included treatment from 1994 to 2006 at almost 2,000 hospitals. Their analysis found that while about 31 percent of male heart attack patients did not have chest pain or discomfort, about 42 percent of female patients experienced the same lack of symptoms. In younger women, no chest pain was even more common following a heart attack.

A lack of pain or discomfort can be extremely dangerous when it comes to a heart attack, as it can cause a delay in treatment and increase the risk of death. This also makes clear why women included in the study had a higher incidence of death compared to men , as many were unaware they were experiencing a heart attack and did not receive treatment early enough, if at all.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that each year, almost 800,000 people in the U.S. experience their first heart attack, and heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for men and women.

It is important to remember that aside from chest pain and discomfort, heart attack sufferers can also experience shortness of breath or pain in the jaw, neck, arms, stomach or back. Women who have a family history of heart disease, are smokers, or those with diabetes are predisposed to heart attacks. These women should be aware that there are more symptoms of a heart attack than just chest pain.

If you or a loved one ‘s experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment of their heart attack resulting in serious injury or death, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos for a free consultation today. We have helped clients with Bronx cardiac malpractice, Brooklyn cardiac malpractice, Queens cardiac malpractice, Manhattan cardiac malpractice and Long Island cardiac malpractice cases.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM

Teen Girls Twice as Likely to Use Cell Phones or Other Electronic Devices While Driving

A study recently released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that teen girls are twice as likely as teen boys to use an electronic device, including cell phones, while driving. Girls are also almost ten percent more likely to engage in other distracting behaviors while behind the wheel. Teen boys were found to be twice as likely as girls to turn around in their seats, and were also more likely to talk to people outside of their cars while driving.

Researchers involved in the study looked at in-car video clips of unsupervised new teen drivers in North Carolina. The videos revealed that the most common distractions for both genders were cell phone use, including texting, personal grooming, and reaching for things within the car. Cell phone use was observed in about 7 percent of the video clips. Fifteen percent of the videos showed some other type of distraction while driving, such as eating or drinking, personal grooming or adjusting car controls.

The study found that when teen drivers had a group of passengers in their car as opposed to one passenger, horseplay and loud conversation was far more likely to occur. Older teens were found to be more prone to distracted driving. Researchers believe that as teens become more comfortable behind the wheel, they are more likely to engage in distracted behaviors while driving.

Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S., making it extremely important that teens understand the dangers of distracted driving. Parents should educate their teen about the hazards of distracted driving. If you or a loved one was injured as a result of another driver’s negligence, call or email the automobile accident attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos today. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will evaluate your case for free any answer any questions you may have. We have helped clients with Queens auto accident, Bronx auto accident, Brooklyn auto accident, Manhattan auto accident and Long Island auto accident cases.