In a recent study, women who took estrogen and progestin after menopause had a 61 percent lower risk of serious heart problems than women who did not. Older age makes diagnosis more difficult, contributing to delay. Since women tend to be older, they may have other health problems arthritis, osteoporosis or diabetes, for example. Such complications make it harder to diagnose a heart attack and treat it quickly. Women should talk with their doctors about these complications before a heart attack occurs.
Women also delay because they don t want to bother anybody.
Or they may worry about who will take care of the children if they have to go to the hospital. The very best thing a woman can do for her family is take care of herself. Women may think a heart attack is an instant death sentence. That s not true. However, if a woman thinks there s no hope, she s less likely to ask for help.