According to multiple studies, heart disease is the leading cause of death throughout the country. Men, women, and people across all ethnicities are affected by it. Knowing the common signs of a heart attack is critical, so anyone can receive the immediate treatment they require. While patients should know the symptoms of a heart attack, it is critical that doctors can immediately recognize the signs so they can save the patient’s life. If a doctor has acted negligently and you or someone you love has been hurt, a West Palm Beach heart attack malpractice lawyer can advise on your case and help you recover any financial compensation you deserve.
Understanding the Signs of a Heart Attack
Many people believe they know the common signs of a heart attack, but the symptoms vary greatly between men and women. Men are more likely to experience the more commonly known symptoms such as a pressure that feels like a tightening or squeezing in the chest. Men are also more likely to feel the trademark tingling or pain in their arm, usually in the left side.
Heart attack symptoms in women present much differently than they do in men. Women may experience:
- Restlessness
- Pressure in the upper back
- Extreme fatigue
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
- Pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen
Sometimes, doctors will only look for the telltale complaints of chest pain and numbness or tingling in the left arm when they are diagnosing a heart attack. If a patient does not show those symptoms, as many women do not, they may fail to offer a correct diagnosis. Doctors may send a patient home, where they suffer even further and the condition could even prove to be fatal for them.
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How Does Failure to Diagnose a Heart Attack Occur?
Other than failing to recognize a patient’s symptoms, there are other ways in which doctors can fail to diagnose a heart attack. These are as follows:
- Failure to review medical history: Heart disease is often a hereditary condition. Doctors must fully review the medical history of any patient so they can understand when someone is at greater risk of suffering from a heart attack.
- Misinterpreting test results: Doctors usually order an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor a patient’s cardiac activity and determine if the patient is suffering from a heart attack. Doctors may fail to order these tests, or they may misinterpret the results.
- Misdiagnosis: It is extremely common for patients to suffer from a heart attack and then be diagnosed with a condition much less serious, such as indigestion or heartburn. The patient is then sent home and suffers serious harm.
Call Our Heart Attack Malpractice Lawyer in West Palm Beach for a Free Case Review
If the health of you or someone you love has declined due to medical negligence, our West Palm Beach heart attack malpractice lawyer can help you file a claim. At Freidin Brown, P.A., our seasoned attorneys know the harm caused by medical malpractice, and we are dedicated to helping families make things right. Call us now or contact us online to learn more about how we can help you, too.