Woman’s Abdominal Pain Leads to Life-Saving Heart Attack Diagnosis at Israeli Hospital

Esti Roitman, a 40-year-old woman from northern Israel, arrived at the emergency department of Emek Medical Center last week suffering from worsening abdominal pain radiating to her back. Convinced she had a digestive issue, she was shocked when she collapsed shortly after arrival and lost consciousness. Medical staff quickly identified that she was experiencing a cardiac arrest and initiated prolonged resuscitation efforts lasting about 30 minutes.

Dr. Wasim Aslim, a senior emergency physician at Emek, described how Roitman was found pulseless and not breathing in a restroom stall. After multiple rounds of CPR, electric shocks, adrenaline, and ventilation, the team stabilized her and an ECG revealed she was having a heart attack. She was immediately transferred to the catheterization lab where cardiologists performed an emergency angioplasty to open a blockage in her main artery. Remarkably, Roitman fully recovered the day after the procedure without any brain damage.

Dr. Limor Boshari, head of cardiology at Emek, emphasized that heart attack symptoms in women often differ from the classic chest pain pattern seen in men. Women may experience abdominal pain, back pain, extreme weakness, or shortness of breath, which can delay diagnosis and treatment. She highlighted the importance of raising awareness about these gender differences to save lives through early recognition.

Roitman expressed gratitude to the medical teams who saved her life and urged other women to listen to their bodies and seek prompt medical care. She described her experience as being "born twice," once at birth and again after her resuscitation at Emek Medical Center.

This case underscores the critical need for awareness of atypical heart attack symptoms in women and the life-saving impact of rapid emergency response and specialized cardiac care.