Heart attacks in trans people

[KathyLauren]

I have read a number of news stories in recent years about how women experience heart attack symptoms differently from men, and how that adversely affects their diagnosis and treatment.  After reading another one recently, I wondered how trans women experience heart attack symptoms. 

Do we experience it like as a woman (hormonal influence) or more like a man (physiological influence)?  And the same goes, in reverse, for trans men.  I don't suppose there are many, if any, studies on this.  I am curious if anyone knows of studies in this area. 

In case you are worried about me, don't be: my doctor figures I am very low risk.  My cholesterol is the lowest she has ever seen in anyone my age, my BMI is 23, and I have no known risk factors.

Just curious, that's all.

[graspthesanity]

I actually had a scare a few weeks ago. I got all the symptoms of a male heart attack (I'm a trans man) and had to go to the emergency and in the end I was explained that it was because my tissue is changing due to Testosterone and was put on heart medicine... So yeah.

[GingerVicki]

I would pay attention to all the signs regardless of gender.

[Wendi]

I had a heart attack before I started HRT.

I pay closer attention to any symptom that may develope. Is get to the Dr quickly if I had any chest pains, shortness, of breath, fatigue, pain on one side of my body, etc.

My Dr spoke to my cardiologist and they agreed that me using patches would be the safest route since I had a heart attack and pulmanory embolism.

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[KathyLauren]

I would pay attention to all the signs regardless of gender.

Barring any strong information one way or the other, that seems to be the best approach.

[Gertrude]

I actually had a scare a few weeks ago. I got all the symptoms of a male heart attack (I'm a trans man) and had to go to the emergency and in the end I was explained that it was because my tissue is changing due to Testosterone and was put on heart medicine... So yeah.

T can raise blood pressure, so keep and eye on it.


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[Sydney_NYC]

This came up in discussion at an LGBTQ health forum I was at last week. One of the doctors there said there aren't any good studies on this, but from what he and others have seen it seems to be more hormone dependent. The longer on HRT (in either direction MtF or FTM) the more the symptoms resonate to the target gender with it happening quicker with FtM than MtF as testosterone is more stronger than estrogen, but with trans women within 9 months to a year, symptoms are more female like than male like.

[Jessica]

What are the symptoms experienced by women?

[KathyLauren]

@Sydney_NYC, thanks for that information.  It makes sense and is kind of what I would expect.  It is good to have some idea of the time frames involved.

What are the symptoms experienced by women?

Whereas the classic symptoms for men are crushing chest pain that radiates down the left arm, women experience a variety of symptoms:

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
• As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

[Dawn Kellie]

I don't remember all the details but my wife. I medical professional had told me women can present different than men when talking about a heart attack. Also, people with diabetes can present different. I would recommend looking it up, or have a discussion with a cardiologist, For a trans person I wouldn't even fathom a guess. I'd look for a cardiologist that has some experience with trans people. 
As someone that has had a heart attack I had no pre attack symptoms. I was in decent shape for my age and ate well. Mine was part genetics and part dehydration. The biggest piece of advice I received from my cardiologist was drink more water. If you are having a slow day drink 64oz of water a day. If you are active crank up the water in take. If your urine is dark or thick drink more water. The typical westerner is chronically dehydrated. This doesn't count coffee, tea. soda, or alcohol. You have to be careful with sports drinks as some have a lot of sugar.
I hope this is useful.

[ChrissyRyan]

Heart health is very important.

As I understand it, if one of your biological parents had heart issues, your risks could be higher than average for having heart issues - even if your cholesterol levels are normal, and you think you are in good health.

[Dawn Kellie]

Mine happend when I was 49. There is no magic age when you can't have one. I was doomed from the beginning. 3 of my 4 grandparents had heart issues. My dad has heart issues.
Please everyone drunk more water and take heart health seriously at all ages