When it comes to heart health and symptoms, women really are different. Not in every way, but in some important ways such as the symptoms of a heart attack.
Female Heart Attack Symptoms
Many women never have chest pains that are a typical sign of a heart attack in a man. Common symptoms of a heart attack for women such as shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue or pressure in the lower chest are often mistaken for other problems. Women can also have nausea, dizziness, upper abdominal pressure and back pain. These symptoms normally occur weeks before the actual heart attack and are warning signs of a blocked artery.
Your Risk Of Heart Disease
Women have a one in two chance of developing Cardio Vascular disease often called CVD. It includes diseases of the heart like a myocardial infarction or a heart attack, congestive heart failure, and blocked or calcified blood vessel often called hardening of the arteries that can result in a stroke. These are pretty tough odds. Do you know your risk level? Did you have problems with high blood pressure when you were pregnant? Have you discussed this with your doctor or read about it in magazines? Are you taking an over the counter medicine like aspirin or Vitamin E because you read somewhere that it helps but haven't told your doctor? Do you know what you can do to really prevent CVD?
First, find out what your risk level is, and whatever the level is, include appropriate prevention activities in your day-to-day life. A good place to learn more about your risk is to take the Blue Health Assessment on our web site. The Assessment takes a look at your habits and current health status as well as your family's medical history to assess your risk. You can print out the completed Assessment and take it with you to your next physician's visit.
An evaluation of risk also means you should schedule a physical exam with your doctor that includes blood pressure measurements (should be lower than 140/90), body mass index (BMI) and waist size, plus lab tests including cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose (blood sugar).
Based your doctor's review, you will probably be assigned a risk level of high risk, at risk or optimal risk. This helps the doctor decide preventive care actions that are appropriate for your risk. Following your physician's guidelines may help you maintain your current level of health and prevent or slow additional progression of CVD.
Preventing Heart Disease
Prevention entails all aspects of your life, including lifestyle changes, treatment for existing problems, and preventive medicines. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes or your LDL cholesterol is high or HDL is low, work with your doctor to get treatment and follow through with the advice you get.
Anyone can change his or her lifestyle, but it takes commitment every day. Eating a healthy diet with more whole grains, fruits, vegetables and fish are some changes you can make. Women should get at least 30 minutes a day, on most days, of moderate intensity exercise-like brisk walking. If you are overweight, an hour or more a day is recommended. Think about signing up for Walking Works® on our web site and track your steps each time you walk. Two of the most important ways to prevent CVD are to quit smoking and to get to a healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 and you waist should be less than 35"). Let your doctor know you are working on preventing CVD or its progression to make sure you are on the right track.
Preventive medicines can lessen the risk of stroke or heart attack. Talk with your doctor about this. It is especially important not to start any preventive medicine, even over the counter medicines like baby aspirin, unless your doctor agrees. Research has shown that even baby aspirin can cause complications in some women while working well for others. If you have prescribed medicines, ask your physician or pharmacist if a generic is available. Generics are equivalent to and as effective as name-brand medicines and can save you a lot of money.
Remember, anyone can start preventing the risk of CVD, at any age. Women are at such great risk that it makes sense to make time for yourself and follow through with a plan. And what better time to start than February, American Heart Association's Heart Health month.