The care of a woman’s heart
More women get heart disease than all forms of cancer combined.
One in five women have some form of heart of blood vessel disease.
Thirty-eight percent of women who have heart attacks died within a
year.
But most women don't regard heard disease as a health risk.
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 says Ellen Gordon, M.D., UI Heart Care
physician. 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 life saving
treatment.
The classic symptoms for both sexes include:
- Squeezing chest pain or pressure
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Tightness in 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
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
that white women, but are more than twice as likely to die from the
disease.
Talk to your doctor
If you have more than one of the risk factors for heart disease, talk
to you family doctor or contact a UI Health Care heart 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 sex, 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 5 to 10 pounds can make a big difference.
- Eat an orange 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.
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