Medical Malpractice and Women’s Heart Issues
When you are experiencing troubling symptoms and concerns about your physical well-being, it is important to make your doctor aware of your situation as soon as possible. Heart disease is one of the most common and potentially life threatening health issues in the United States. Addressing the problem early is key to a patient’s survival. Unfortunately, while women are just as likely to suffer heart problems as their male counterparts, their symptoms are often different, resulting in medical mistakes and misdiagnosis that can be fatal. The following is important information to be aware of regarding the facts about women and heart disease, as well as the symptoms to be aware that your doctor may miss. We’ll also share information on how you can seek compensation if you believe you or a loved have been a victim of medical malpractice.
Facts About Women and Heart Disease
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., killing roughly 300,000 women each year. Unfortunately, as many as half of all women are unaware of this threat, and roughly two thirds of all women who die of coronary heart disease reported no previous symptoms. Heart disease is known as “the silent killer,” making it vital for women to be aware of the risks, to take the necessary steps to protect their health. The CDC recommends having your doctor monitor the following:
- Blood pressure: With no exterior symptoms to indicate a problem, it is important to have your doctor monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis
- Blood sugar levels: Getting routine bloodwork done once a year can alert your medical provider to early signs of diabetes, which can increase your risk for heart disease
- Cholesterol and triglyceride levels: In addition to following a healthy diet, make sure your doctor checks for high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, another early indicator of potential future heart problems
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Medical Malpractice: Symptoms of Heart Disease Often Missed
A Healthline report on women’s heart health states that while heart disease is still largely considered to be a man’s problem, it now kills more women than men each year and improper diagnosis and treatment may be to blame. Failure to recognize the potential symptoms or the threats women face on the part of medical providers can result
in the following types of medical mistakes:
- Diagnostic delays due to lack of proper screening
- Failure to prescribe common drugs used to treat symptoms, such as high blood pressure and angina
- Failure to order the appropriate testing, such as EKGs and stress tests
- Failure to perform potentially lifesaving procedures, such as a heart bypass or stent implants
In addition to the above, hospital emergency personnel may fail to recognize heart attack symptoms in women, mistaking them for a panic attack or stomach issues. Women’s symptoms are somewhat different than men’s, and may include back, neck, or jaw pain, heartburn, nausea and vomiting, and shortness of breath.
Get Help From a South Carolina Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you or someone you care about has been the victim of a medical error or mistake, contact our experienced South Carolina medical malpractice attorneys today. At Anastopoulo Law Firm we can advise you on how to hold responsible parties accountable for the damages you have suffered and assist you in getting the compensation you need to recover.
Call or text 803-222-2222 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
