The first symptoms many women suffering from heart disease experience may be pressure or mild discomfort in the chest, but sometimes there may be no chest pain at all. That’s because when women suffer from a heart attack, they are far less likely to experience the crushing, suffocating chest pain normally associated with heart attacks in men.
Common heart attack symptoms in women include:
- Unusual fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Sweating
- Neck, jaw, shoulder or back pain
- Abdominal discomfort
- Pain in one or both arms
Because they are more subtle, these symptoms may be ignored by women, especially senior women. A woman’s heart attack may even be misdiagnosed by health care professionals.
Recognizing the symptoms of heart disease — the number one cause of death for both men and women — early on and seeking help is vital, but prevention is the best defense.
Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease in Women
Men and women share many similar risks for heart disease including high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and obesity. However, some conditions pose a higher risk of heart disease in women than men. They include:
- Menopause
- Mental stress
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Inactivity
- Pregnancy complications
In addition, some cancer therapies, like those used to treat breast cancer, can increase the risk of heart disease.
A condition called “broken heart syndrome” is often brought on by stress, usually after menopause, and may cause temporary heart muscle failure with symptoms mimicking a heart attack. Also, low levels of estrogen are significant in the development of cardiovascular disease. Associated weight gain and an increase in blood pressure adds to the risk.
According to the American Heart Association, diabetes is a powerful risk factor for heart disease in women. Women with diabetes are two times more likely to develop heart disease than their male counterparts. They are also more likely to have heart attacks earlier in life, with an increased risk of fatal heart attacks.
Prevention
Commonly recommended heart disease prevention tips for women include:
- Maintaining healthy weight
- Exercising
- Not smoking
- Eating a healthy diet
- Taking medications as prescribed
Before embarking upon any changes in weight, diet or exercise, or for questions about medications, consult your physician.
Below is some general information that may help in the conversation with your physician.
Also note: If you have heart disease, many of these same steps may still apply to help prevent or slow the advancement of the disease.
What Should You Weigh?
The answer to this question varies. Your body type (slight, medium or large frame) must be factored in. Click here to access a quick and easy calculator, which will give you some idea of a healthy weight for your body. Your physician can help determine your ideal weight.
How Much Should You Exercise?
The Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity to help reduce the risk of heart disease. Strength training at least twice a week is also recommended. The Mayo Clinic provides detailed information about exercise intensity and how to measure it.
They also caution that people with diabetes or more than one other risk factor for heart disease should consult with their physician before starting a vigorous exercise program. A physician consultation is also recommended for women aged 55 and older.
Don’t Smoke to Prevent Heart Disease
Smoking is a heart disease risk factor for both men and women, but it creates a higher risk for women — 25 percent to be exact. Smoking raises blood pressure, increases heart rate, damages blood vessels, reduces how much oxygen your heart receives, and makes blood clots more likely.
Eat a Healthy Diet
The American Heart Association recommends consuming a healthy diet consisting of a variety of fruits and vegetables, grain products, fish and non-processed foods low in saturated fats. Limit sodium intake and, for women, limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day.
Foods high in saturated fats can create too much cholesterol, which tends to build up and present in the arteries as plaque, therefore slowing or blocking blood flow. When plaque obstructs coronary arteries, it can lead to heart disease.
However, there is a good type and a bad type of cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the “bad” cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the “good” cholesterol that carries bad cholesterol back to the liver for elimination. When you hear you have high cholesterol, it is referring to LDL. Healthy cholesterol ranges depend upon your age and physical condition, so check with your physician.
Take Medications as Prescribed
This may seem obvious, but blood thinners, medications for high blood pressure and cholesterol, and other heart-related medications should be taken as prescribed and not discontinued unless instructed by a physician to do so.
Taking a daily low-dose of aspirin has been a popular preventative measure for heart problems, but there are risks associated with it. The Mayo Clinic provides information on the effects and risks of low-dose aspirin.
Please talk to your physician before starting an aspirin regimen. He or she knows your medical history and the medications you are taking, and can best determine how your body may react.
