A nurse is preparing a presentation for a local women's group about heart disease and women. Which of the following would the nurse expect to address when discussing measures to promote health?

Question

A) Women have similar symptoms as men for a heart attack.
B) Heart disease is no longer viewed as a "man's disease.".
C) Women experiencing a heart attack are at greater risk for dying.
D) Heart attacks in women are more easily diagnosed.

Answer 1

C
Feedback:
Women who have a heart attack are more likely than men to die. Heart attacks in women are often more difficult to diagnose than in men because of their vague and varied symptoms. Heart disease is still thought of as a "man's disease," and thus a heart attack may not be considered in the differential diagnosis when a woman presents to the emergency room.
Nurses need to look beyond the obvious "crushing chest pain" textbook symptom that heralds a heart attack in men. Manifestations of heart disease differ between men and women.