Is it love…or a heart attack?
Coronary artery disease (heart disease) is STILL the #1 cause of death in women. It is responsible for 1 in 5 female deaths yet only 56% of women recognize this threat. (CDC report)
Why?
Because our symptoms are different than those men typically experience and we usually dismiss these important clues as 10,000 other things.
What are the symptoms of heart disease women should watch out for?
Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat
Pain in the upper abdomen or back
Heaviness in the chest or a dull discomfort or ache, called Angina.
Nausea/Vomiting
Heartburn/indigestion
Fatigue that won’t go away or feels excessive
We often hear of the typical symptoms of heart attach, as experienced by men as chest constriction, tightness or pain, occurring when moving. Women more often experience symptoms at rest or asleep, which makes them even harder to recognize. Emotional stress can also play a role in triggering heart attack symptoms in women.
When to Call 9-1-1
Heart attack: sudden onset of multiple symptoms listed above
Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations)
Shortness of breath, sudden fatigue, or swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, or abdomen
Pain in one or both arms
Sweating
Reduce your risk
Quit smoking. If you don't smoke, don't start. Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke and air pollution, which also can damage blood vessels.
Eat and anti-inflammatory diet (what’s that mean? )
Exercise and maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, losing even a few pounds can lower heart disease risks. Get a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily. You can break it up into smaller segments. Sneak in movement where you can by taking stairs, parking farther from buildings and breaking up periods of sitting.
Manage stress. Stress can cause the arteries to tighten, which can increase the risk of heart disease and emotions can trigger heart attack in women. Learn more about stress management here.
Avoid or limit alcohol. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means less than one drink a day for women and less than two drinks a day for men. There is NO healthy amount of alcohol consumption.
Follow your treatment plan. Take medications as prescribed, such as blood pressure medications, blood thinners and aspirin.
Monitor your blood pressure. Having uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and dementia. Following the steps above will support healthy blood pressure.
Get regular fasting blood work:
Know your risk for diabetes and reduce insulin resistance. Elevated blood sugar, fasting insulin and hemoglobin A1C are signs of insulin resistance and diabetes risk.
Monitor your cholesterol and triglycerides.
There are a number of factors that impact your risk for Heart disease - check the calculator below to know your personal risk.