IF YOU ARE A WOMAN
who cares about
health, it’s crucial to embrace the health
of your heart.
Tink heart disease is just a man’s
problem? Look at some facts:
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Each year, 1 in 4 deaths among U.S.
women is from heart disease—the lead-
ing killer, reports the National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute.
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Heart disease, stroke and other car-
diovascular diseases kill more American
women each year than the next fve lead-
ing causes of death combined.
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Women are less likely than men to
survive a heart attack.
Of all the threats to a woman’s heart,
the most common is coronary heart dis-
ease (CHD), which can lead to heart at-
tacks. CHD results when plaque buildup
narrows the heart’s arteries. Plaque is
composed of fat, cholesterol, calcium and
other material found in the blood. Even
worse, an artery can become blocked by
clots, triggering a heart attack.
Women, like men, can have other
forms of heart disease, too, such as
arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythm or
rate) or heart failure (a weakened heart
that can’t pump enough blood).
Several factors can increase your
risk of heart disease. Among them are
smoking, having high blood pressure or
abnormal cholesterol levels, being over-
weight, or having diabetes.
If early heart disease runs in the family
or you’re older than 55, your risk increases
too. Te age-related rise in risk is later for
women than it is for men. Tat’s partly
because estrogen gives premenopausal
women some heart disease protection.
To understand your risk—and how to
lower it—have a heart-to-heart with your
doctor. You can also discuss other factors
that may afect a woman’s heart, such as
using birth control pills if you’re older
than 35 and a smoker.
Recognize warnings from the heart
Indications of heart disease and heart at-
tacks can be diferent for men and women.
A common symptom of heart disease in
everyone is chest discomfort (angina). In
women, however, angina is often a sharp,
burning pain that may be felt in other
areas, such as the back, neck or jaw.
Pain in any of these areas can also be
a heart attack—a medical emergency.
Women may have other heart attack
warnings as well, such as shortness of
breath or nausea. Don’t ignore any of these
symptoms of a possible heart attack. Call
911 within fve minutes of having any of
these symptoms. Even if symptoms disap-
pear after a few minutes, get medical help.
Heart facts
for women
Help guard
your heart
Ask your doctor about these
heart-friendly ideas:
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Keep blood pressure in
a healthy range. Have your
blood pressure checked
regularly. If it needs to come
down, there are ways to
lower it. For instance, reduce
the amount of salt you
consume, eat lots of fruits
and vegetables, lose excess
weight, and take medicines
as prescribed.
✓
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Control cholesterol. Eat
foods low in saturated fat,
trans fat and cholesterol,
and stay informed about
your blood cholesterol and
triglyceride levels with regu-
lar testing. To help improve
cholesterol levels, you may
also need to take medicine.
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Keep a healthy weight.
Watch your calorie intake,
and be physically active to
avoid excess pounds.
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Get checked for diabetes.
If you have diabetes or pre-
diabetes, follow a treatment
plan to control blood sugar.
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Don’t smoke. If you do,
ask your doctor about prod-
ucts or support groups that
may help you stop smoking.
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Know the risks of drinking
alcohol. Understand how
drinking may afect blood
pressure and other health
risks.
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Handle stress healthfully.
Try exercising or sharing feel-
ings with trusted friends.
American Heart Association; U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services
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more about
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