Being a Heart Healthy Woman
Even though heart disease is the most common killer of women, ladies often chalk up the symptoms to less life-threatening conditions like acid reflux or normal stress. And although the typical heart attack does come with chest pain, many heart attacks among women do not come with the excruciating discomfort and heaviness in the chest commonly associated with a heart attack. The signs for women are typically more subtle and sometimes confusing.
According to the American Heart Association a heart attack strikes someone about every 34 seconds in the U.S. Most attacks occur when the blood can't flow to the heart as well as it should, denying the organ the oxygen it needs to survive. This usually happens because the arteries that supply the heart with blood can slowly narrow from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and or plaque.
In many cases, women who have had heart attacks say they experience an upper back pressure that feels like someone is squeezing them or tying a rope around them. Other signs of heart attacks in women include uncomfortable pressure, fullness or pain in the center of the chest. It can last more than a few minutes, or go away and come back. Women can also experience pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort can be a symptom. A woman having a heart attack can also have signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. All of these are early signs that something is wrong.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should get to a hospital immediately. Even when the signs are subtle, the consequences can be deadly.
In addition to understanding the signs of a heart attack in women, it is important to remember that heart disease is preventable and that women can take steps to protect themselves.
One of the most valuable ways to maintain your heart health is to schedule an appointment with your health care provider. They are your ally in the fight against heart disease.
If you smoke, you should try to quit. Research has found that after just one year after quitting, women can cut their risk of coronary heart disease by 50%. It is also important to move. Just walking 30 minutes a day can lower your risk for heart attack and stroke.
Another important step to improving your heart health is eating right. Make sure at least half of your plate is filled with fruits and vegetables and that you are consuming lean meats.
The more women know about our heart health, the more we can do to reduce the risk of heart disease.
