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| Women and Heart Disease - A terrible myth.
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Heart disease is mainly a man's problem and heart attacks don't happen to women as often as men. It's a terrible myth. And it's terribly wrong.
At The Heart and Vascular Institute at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, we know the truth: Each year cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, and nearly one out of every two women will die from heart disease.
Consider these disheartening facts:
- Heart disease will kill nearly 500,000 women this year.
- More women than men died from heart attacks last year.
- About 40,000 more women than men suffered a stroke last year.
- 38% of women who have heart attacks die within one year, compared to 25% of men.
- By age 50, women begin to suffer the effects of heart disease at a rate equal to men.
- 63% of women who die from heart disease had no previous symptoms.
- Women experience different heart attack symptoms than men.
- Recent research suggests that women are more concerned with breast cancer than with heart disease, yet women are 12 times as likely to die from cardiovascular ailments.
It adds up to something all women should to take to heart: Heart disease is - by far - the number one cause of death and debilitating affliction for women.
So women should watch for chest pain, right?
Well, yes and no. Not only do women need to be concerned with heart attacks, they also need to learn what to look for. Traditionally, the main symptom everyone needed to worry about was severe chest pain. Of course, chest pain and arm numbness may be a symptom for anyone having a heart attack, but women may also have other more subtle warning signs, such as:
- Breathlessness, often without chest pain of any kind
- Unexplained nausea, clamminess or cold sweats
- Unexplained fatigue, weakness or dizziness
- Pain in the upper back, shoulders, neck or jaw
- Feelings of anxiety combined with other symptoms
With any of these symptoms, contact a physician immediately. If these symptoms persist or become more intense, call 911 and go to an emergency room immediately.
How do I know if I'm at risk?
There are a number of factors that predict an increased risk for heart disease. First of all, your genetic make-up may predispose you to heart disease. In addition, age plays a major role in cardiovascular disease. Women become most vulnerable after age 50, but, as is the case with men as well, heart disease can strike at any age.
Other risk factors that greatly increase a woman's chance for heart disease include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, being overweight or obese and the inability to manage stress. Of course, all of these factors are controllable, although they may require intervention from a physician.
The most important thing a woman can do to learn about her risk for heart disease is to talk to her physician. Your family physician knows your health history and will ask the right questions to help you understand what you need to do to keep your heart healthy and strong.
AVOIDING HEART DISEASE
So how can a woman avoid the effects of heart disease? There are two main groups of risk factors for heart disease: controllable and uncontrollable factors.
Uncontrollable Risk Factors
Aging
Everyone's risk for heart disease grows with age. By age 50, a woman's risk of heart attack is equal to that of a man, and her survival rate after a heart attack is significantly less than a man's.
Genetics
a family history of heart disease means you may be predisposed to heart trouble. If your mother or sister had heart disease, chances are better that you will as well. In fact, if anyone in your immediate family suffers from heart disease, use it as a wake up call to keep a closer eye on your heart health.
Postmenopause
Postmenopausal women have a heart disease risk of about 2 to 3 times higher than women of the same age who have not yet undergone menopause.
Diabetes
Women with diabetes have a significantly higher risk for heart disease.
These are risk factors that no woman can control. But any one of these risk factors, and especially a combination of these factors, should make a woman more aware of the increased likelihood of developing heart disease.
If you recognize any of these risk factors in your life, talk to your doctor about what you can do to lessen the likelihood of heart disease.
Controllable Risk Factors
Smoking
It is absolutely the worst thing you can do to yourself. It weakens your heart, constricts your arteries and causes higher blood pressure. Smoking kills. Do whatever it takes to quit.
Being overweight/obese
It is another serious risk factor that you can do something about. About 65 percent of women are overweight and nearly 35 percent are obese. With an increase in weight comes an increase in the likelihood of heart disease. Talk to your doctor about maintaining a healthy weight.
High blood pressure
Nearly one-third of adult women develop high blood pressure, which if left uncontrolled can cause heart failure. Have your blood pressure checked regularly and take every measure to keep it normal.
High cholesterol
High levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) clog your arteries and lead to heart attacks. Keep your cholesterol in check.
Physical inactivity
Get up and engage in some physical activity about 30 minutes each day or at least three to four times a week. Try brisk walking, bicycling, a treadmill - just get moving.
Unhealthy diet
You need a heart-healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. That means lots of fresh fruits and vegetables - and avoidance of too much saturated fat. And cut out the junk food. You don't need it.
Stress
Sure sometimes it feels uncontrollable, but you can find a way to channel it positively. Learn to recognize stress in your life and to put things in perspective. Exercise, meditation and hobbies are proven ways to control stress. Give one a try!
Not seeing a doctor
Visit your doctor regularly - at least once a year or as often as he or she recommends. Use each visit to talk about all your health concerns. Your physician knows best how to control heart trouble and knows exactly what you need to do to keep your heart healthy and strong.
An attitude that views heart disease as a "man's disease"
Heart-related diseases kill one out of every two women. Smarten up! Learn about heart disease in your life and act to avoid it. It does strike women - and does so more often than it strikes men.
To reduce these risk factors, a woman needs to take better control of her life. Visit your doctor more often and talk about heart disease. Then develop a plan to reduce your overall risk. It will bring you a wealth of healthy rewards, including a stronger heart.
Most importantly, talk to your doctor regularly about any changes you feel - and make sure you are doing all you can to make your heart healthy and strong.
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