Recognize the less common symptoms of heart disease and learn four steps
women can take to maintain a healthy heart.
Did you know that women have the same risk for developing heart disease
as men? Even still, many people don’t understand the facts about
heart disease in women. It’s time to change that perception.
According to the American Heart Association:
Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. for women.
The average age for females who experience a heart attack is 72, but heart
disease can affect women of all ages. Risk factors, such as taking contraceptives
and smoking, increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Sixty-four percent of women who die from coronary heart disease experienced
no previous symptoms.
Risk Factors and Symptoms
Many risk factors for heart disease, such as family history, high blood
pressure and cholesterol, and obesity, are the same for both sexes. However,
some risk factors are unique to women. One study found that plaque in
the arteries forms differently in some women than it does in men, making
it harder to identify. Women’s heart disease risk may also increase
after menopause due to a dip in estrogen levels, as estrogen helps keep
arteries relaxed.
Many women experience heart disease symptoms that are less recognizable.
Some of these heart attack symptoms in women include:
Lightheadedness
Pain in the jaw, shoulder or arm
Shortness of breath
If you or a loved one experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
Even if it isn’t a heart attack, it’s better to be mistaken
than to delay treatment.
Help Your Heart
To minimize your risk of heart disease, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention recommends the following:
Visit your healthcare provider regularly to check your blood pressure,
cholesterol and triglycerides. Ask for any recommended heart and vascular
screenings.
Ask your healthcare provider if you should be tested for diabetes. Uncontrolled
diabetes can increase your risk of heart disease.
Exercise regularly. Walking 30 minutes a day can reduce your risk of heart attack.
If you smoke, quit. Smoking cessation can decrease your risk of coronary
heart disease by 50 percent.
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