Chest pain presentation in women and the psychological impact

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease remains the biggest global killer of women accounting for 47% of total female mortality yet many women remain unaware of this citing cancer as the major health threat. Chest pain is synonymous with the presentation of cardiac disease and impending acute coronary syndrome (ACS) however it is often not the main presenting symptom in many women and ACS symptoms as presented by women are often described as ‘atypical’. Psychological reactions such as anxiety are common following an acute cardiac event with younger women at greater risk. This article describes the neurobiology of chest pain, the differences in presentation with ACS by women and the nursing assessment and management of anxiety. A case study is used to illustrate the issues.