|
Heart disease is no longer just a man's disease. It's an
equal opportunity killer.
Heart attacks in women may feel different than heart
attacks in men. In addition to crushing chest pain, a
woman's symptoms may be more vague--an upset stomach,
shortness of breath. Men may have these symptoms, too. It is
well documented that prompt recognition and treatment of a
heart attack can save lives. For women, not knowing their
warning signs may significantly delay lifesaving treatment.
The classic symptoms for both sexes include:
- Squeezing chest pain or pressure
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Tightness in the chest
- Pain spreading to shoulders, neck, or arm
Symptoms that more likely appear in women include:
- Indigestion or gas-like pain
- Dizziness, nausea, or vomiting
- Unexplained weakness, fatigue
- Discomfort/pain between shoulder blades
- Recurring chest discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweats
- Jaw pain
- Sense of impending doom
More women will die from heart disease than all forms of
cancer combined.
One in five women have some form of heart or blood vessel
disease.
Thirty-eight percent of women who have heart attacks die
within a year.
But most women don't regard heart disease as a health
risk.
Back to top
Are you at risk?
The major risk factors for heart disease in women
include:
- Being over 55 and post menopausal
- Having a family history of heart disease
- Being a smoker
- Having a cholesterol level over 240 or blood pressure
more than 140/90
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle
- Being more than 20 pounds overweight
- Having diabetes
- Being African American. Not only do they have a
higher incidence than white women, but are more than
twice as likely to die from the disease.
Back to top
Talk to your doctor
If you have more than one of the risk factors for heart
disease, talk to your family doctor or contact a UI Heart and Vascular Center specialist.
Bring up the subject even if they don't. Learn what you
can do to modify your health risks. Some risks you can't
change--your gender, your ethnicity, your age, your family
history.
There are lifestyle habits you can influence. You can
stop smoking. You can lose weight, and lower your
cholesterol. You can eat healthy and be more active. Consult
with your doctor before changing your lifestyle.
Here are a few suggestions to change your odds of
developing heart disease:
- Lower your LDL cholesterol by limiting saturated fats
to 10 percent of your total daily calorie intake
- Include 25-30 grams of soluble fiber in your daily
diet
- Lose weight. Dropping just five to 10 pounds can make
a big difference
- Eat oranges for the antioxidant vitamin C to help
maintain or elevate your good HDL cholesterol levels
- Exercise helps increase HDL levels
- Stop smoking to help restore healthy HDL levels
Back to top
For more information:
Listed above are several Web sites that offer additional
information on this topic. University of Iowa Health Care
does not sponsor or endorse these sites, or guarantee the
accuracy of the information contained on these sites. These
links are here for general information only, and should not
be used for personal diagnosis or treatment. If you have any
questions, please contact UI
Health Access.
Back to top
|
