http://whyy.org/cms/news/health-science/2009/05/20/chest-pain-care-for-women-headed-to-the-er/8876 News and Information from WHYY in Philadelphia Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:50:34 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 http://whyy.org/cms/news/health-science/2009/05/20/chest-pain-care-for-women-headed-to-the-er/8876/comment-page-1#comment-269 Lynn Thu, 21 May 2009 12:51:48 +0000 http://whyy.org/cms/news/?p=8876#comment-269 These are not surprising findings. I have had my symptoms brushed off as "in my head" for another serious medical condition. By the time I got a diagnosis the damage to my health was permanent. This disregard can come from female as well as male health care professionals because of the culture of their specialties, education, and human nature to seek the path of least resistance. Patients must strongly advocate for themselves in small ways as well. For example: if an IV hurts (it is not supposed to) pursue the issue until someone really takes a look and determines to your satisfaction that it is OK. Everyone can learn to be better historians. Women especially must remove emotion from their description of symptoms and avoid using a passive voice to be heard. These are not surprising findings.
I have had my symptoms brushed off as "in my head" for another serious medical condition. By the time I got a diagnosis the damage to my health was permanent. This disregard can come from female as well as male health care professionals because of the culture of their specialties, education, and human nature to seek the path of least resistance.
Patients must strongly advocate for themselves in small ways as well. For example: if an IV hurts (it is not supposed to) pursue the issue until someone really takes a look and determines to your satisfaction that it is OK.
Everyone can learn to be better historians. Women especially must remove emotion from their description of symptoms and avoid using a passive voice to be heard.

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