Women and Heart Disease

Author

Kathleen Warshawsky, BSN, RN

Posted on

Aug 24, 2017

Book/Edition

Texas - Dallas, Collin, SE Denton & Rockwall Counties

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This past year, my mother developed symptoms of heart disease requiring intervention and treatment. Like most women she ignored and hid her symptoms from those around her.

 

Did you know?

 

·      Americans suffer more than 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes each year

·      Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States

·      One in Four women die from heart disease each year

·      Almost two-thirds of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no symptoms

·      Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease

·      Women are less likely then men to call 9-1-1 when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack

 

Signs of a Heart Attack in Women

 

·      Pain, pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the center of the chest, lasting more than a few minutes or that goes away and then comes back

·      Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, neck, back, jaw, or stomach

·      Shortness of breath with or without chest pain/discomfort

·      Nausea, lightheadedness, or breaking out in a cold sweat

·      The most common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain/discomfort, but women frequently experience some of the other common symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and back or jaw pain.

 

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you have any of these signs, so you can get to a hospital right away

 

How can you improve your heart health?

 

·      Weight reduction

o   Maintain a normal body weight

·      Eat a healthy diet

o   Recommend the DASH eating plan. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy and reduced in fat. Lower your cholesterol by significantly reducing saturated fats, and avoiding trans fats.

·      Exercise

o   At least 30 minutes almost every day of the week. Dancing and walking are great at any age.

·      Stop smoking

o   Smoking raises your blood pressure, which increases your risk for heart attack and stroke

·      Restrict sodium intake

o   Limit sodium/salt intake to less then 1,500mg per day

·      Moderation of alcohol consumption

o   No more than 1 drink per day for women (2 drinks per day for men)

·      Control your blood pressure

o   Blood pressure measures the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. If your blood pressure stays high for a long time, you may suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension. High blood pressure increases your risk for heart attack or stroke more than any other risk factor.

 

Making life long changes is the key to preventing heart disease.

 

By Kathleen Warshawsky, BSN, RN Publisher of Seniors Blue Book Greater Dallas and President of Dallas Area Gerontological Society. Kathleen may be reached at Kathleen@SeniorsBlueBook.com | August 2017

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