For this, my 250th Heart Sisters post here, let’s look at shortness of breath. Dizziness. Nausea. Would you be able to tell if these are symptoms of an allergic reaction or a heart attack? Or could they be both? Overlapping symptoms can cause dangerous delays in correct diagnosis. And studies show that women are often misdiagnosed when having a heart attack, and that women tend to downplay their own symptoms, which can become even more complex when symptoms of two or more conditions overlap.

According to WomenHeart: The National Coalition of Women With Heart Disease, if you are a woman who is already diagnosed with heart disease, you are likely to be taking several cardiac medications.  Some of these can produce allergic reactions with distressing symptoms. Or you may be coping with seasonal or food allergies along with your heart condition.    Continue reading “Allergic reaction or heart attack: can you tell the difference?” →