Overcoming Misdiagnosis: A Survivor's Journey

❗️Misdiagnosis is a common issue in healthcare, especially for women experiencing heart attacks.

💔Heart disease symptoms vary in women and may include chest pain, nausea, and pain down the arm.

🏥Healthcare professionals should be trained to recognize and properly diagnose heart attacks in women.

🚑Treatment-seeking delay behavior is common in women heart patients due to embarrassment and societal biases.

✨Carolyn Thomas has become an advocate for women's heart health, sharing her story to raise awareness and improve outcomes.

Why are women often misdiagnosed with heart disease?

—Traditional diagnostic tests for heart disease were developed on men, leading to a lack of awareness and recognition of atypical symptoms in women.

What are some atypical symptoms of a heart attack in women?

—Women may experience symptoms like nausea, pain down the arm, and indigestion, which are often overlooked or misdiagnosed as other conditions.

How can healthcare professionals improve the diagnosis of heart attacks in women?

—Training healthcare professionals to recognize the diverse symptoms of heart disease in women and addressing biases and stereotypes can improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

Why do women delay seeking treatment for heart attacks?

—Women often delay seeking treatment due to embarrassment, fear of being dismissed, and societal biases that downplay women's experiences.

How is Carolyn Thomas advocating for women's heart health?

—Carolyn Thomas shares her story to raise awareness about women's heart health, educates healthcare professionals, and works to improve outcomes and support for women experiencing heart disease.

00:00Carolyn Thomas shares her harrowing experience of being misdiagnosed with acid reflux when she was actually having a heart attack.

04:30Carolyn recalls her initial symptoms, including central chest pain, nausea, and pain down her arm.

10:00Despite experiencing classic heart attack symptoms, Carolyn was sent home with a misdiagnosis of acid reflux.

14:10Embarrassment and societal biases led Carolyn to delay seeking treatment, putting her health at risk.

18:20Carolyn emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals to recognize atypical symptoms and provide appropriate care for women heart patients.

22:45Carolyn's experience has motivated her to become an advocate for women's heart health, raising awareness and improving outcomes.

26:55Misdiagnosis and treatment-seeking delay behavior are common issues that need to be addressed in women heart patients.

30:10Carolyn encourages women to trust their instincts and seek timely medical help, despite societal barriers.