Recently, a woman named Jenna Tanner shared her harrowing experience of mistaking the symptoms of a heart attack for the flu. Tanner, a 48-year-old mother from Oklahoma, opened up about her ordeal in an interview with Good Morning America (GMA). Her story serves as a cautionary tale for women who may underestimate the signs of a heart attack.
Having recently battled COVID-19 and the flu in her household, Tanner assumed her symptoms were related to those illnesses. She initially believed she was dealing with the flu or an upper respiratory infection. Dismissing seeking medical attention, she attributed the fleeting pains in her chest to her lungs.
Admitting her reluctance to inform her husband about her symptoms, she said, I didn’t want to tell my husband because I knew he would say we have to go straight to the hospital. And I didn’t want to go spend any more time in waiting rooms at the doctor’s office, so I ignored it.
However, ignoring her symptoms almost had fatal consequences. Two days later, Tanner collapsed and regained consciousness only to find herself in the middle of a massive heart attack. Describing the experience, she said, It felt like an elephant sitting on me. I couldn’t move. It was very scary.
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death for women in the US, according to the American Heart Association. Despite this alarming statistic, women often downplay or ignore the signs of a heart attack, which may not always include chest pain. Dr. Darien Sutton, ABC News medical correspondent, explained, Women can typically present with symptoms unrelated to chest pain, and I think that’s one of the reasons why they get downplayed, mainly because it doesn’t feel typically like what you think a heart attack would feel like.
While chest pain remains a common symptom for both men and women during a heart attack, women may also experience shortness of breath, nausea, back, shoulder, and jaw pain. Dr. Sutton emphasized the importance of paying attention to sudden symptoms, cautioning, All of these symptoms, when they happen suddenly, you have to pay attention because they might be a sign of something more sinister.
After managing to call for help by crawling to her phone, Tanner underwent three surgeries and received two stents as part of her treatment. A year later, she reported feeling improved and urged other women to prioritize their heart health. Heart health for women is important. Don’t ignore heart pain, Tanner emphasized. Even if you think it’s your lungs, even if you’ve been to the doctor 20 times in the last two months with your children, just make sure you take it seriously.
Tanner’s story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of recognizing and taking immediate action in the face of potential heart attack symptoms. Women need to be vigilant and proactive when it comes to their heart health, as the signs of a heart attack can vary. Seeking medical attention promptly could make all the difference in a life-or-death situation.
