The classic pain associated with myocardial infarction is chest pain radiating to the left arm. But in women, this heart pathology can manifest differently. A particular symptom should alert you.
Jaw pain, precursor to heart attack in women
Do you feel sudden pain in your jaw for no apparent reason? This symptom, often minimized or misinterpreted, could be a warning of an imminent heart attack, especially in women.
“Jaw pain (or mandibular pain) is a little-known but real symptom of myocardial infarction, particularly in women, where the signs are often atypical.“, confirms Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of True Medical.
Generally speaking, the signs of myocardial infarction in women can appear much more discreetly. “In women, MI often presents with silent or misleading symptoms, such as intense fatigue, nausea or jaw pain.underlines the specialist.
Why jaw pain can hide a heart attack
Unlike a toothache or muscle tension, heart pain sometimes projects into the jaw, neck, throat, or even to the ear.
“This symptom is linked to the radiation of cardiac pain via the nerves which innervate both the heart and the cervico-facial region, which gives rise to a phenomenon of referred pain.explains Dr. Kierzek. “It is a feeling of tightness, pressure or burning and not a sharp pain like with a dental problem.
The discomfort can be unilateral or bilateral, and sometimes worsens with exercise, but can also occur at rest. It does not disappear with traditional analgesics or by massaging the jaw, which distinguishes it from a disorder of muscular or joint origin.
The problem is that women are often the first to fail to make the connection. They think of stress, temporary tension, a toothache and waste precious minutes. But every minute counts at this point!
Other signs that should alert you
In addition to mandibular pain, Dr. Gérald Kierzek emphasizes other unusual symptoms, frequently observed in women in the event of a heart attack:
- Sudden and intense fatigue, “like a wall of fatigue”;
- Effortless or disproportionate shortness of breath;
- Epigastric pain in the upper abdomen, often confused with heartburn;
- Nausea and/or vomiting;
- Cold sweating, pallor;
- Dizziness or vagal discomfort.
But be careful, emphasizes Dr. Kierzek, “some women do not feel any chest pain! Hence the need not to rely solely on classic symptoms.”
When should you call the emergency services?
Dr. Kierzek’s advice is clear: don’t waste time. “If in doubt, do not minimize and call 15 IMMEDIATELY ifpain (jaw, chest, arm, stomach) lasts more than 15 minutes and ifIt is accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, sweating…”
“Don’t wait for it to pass and don’t go to the emergency room on your own. And above all: no self-medication. An MI cannot be treated with Spasfon or Doliprane!” he insists.
The message is clear: if you feel jaw pain with other suggestive symptoms, do not hesitate to dial 15. “Because a false doubt is better than an ignored heart attack” he concludes.