Women and Heart Disease
The topic of women and heart disease is increasingly important as I get older. In my research, I have found that although women can experience atypical symptoms they usually experience the same well-known warning signs men experience (Hitti, 2005). Well- known heart disease symptoms include:
- crushing, squeezing or burning in the center of the chest sometimes radiating to the neck, jaw or shoulders
- shortness of breath, dizziness and sometimes fainting
- nausea, sweating, chills, cold and clammy skin
Every second counts when treating heart atttack victims so if you experience any of these symptoms call 911 immediately. On average men take about three hours to call for help but often women take longer, up to four hours (Hitti, 2005). Women sometimes suffer different heart attack symptoms according to a study conducted by Jill Quinn and Kathleen King of the University of Rochester's nursing school in New York (Hitti, 2005). In their study which involved 41 women and 59 men they found women to be more likely to experience:
- throat discomfort
- vomiting or indigestion
- sensation of pressing on the chest
- shortness of breath
Of course not every person has the same risk factors for heart attack. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity are the biggest risk factors for men and women but additional risk factors for women may play a larger role in the developement of heart disease (Mayo, 2012). Additional risk factors women may experience are:
- Metabolic Syndrome (a combination of high blood pressure, high triglycerides and high blood sugar)
- mental stress and depression
- smoking is a greater risk factor for women than men
- low levels of estrogen after menopause (small vessel heart disease)
There are some things we can all do to prevent heart disease (Mayo, 2012):
- exercise 30-60 minutes a day
- maintain a healthy weight
- quit smoking
- follow a heart healthy diet low in saturated fat, salt and cholesterol
In my research I found several websites which include a heart disease risk calculator which involes filling out a questionaire on subjects such as diet, family history and other lifestyle indicators. After the information is entered you recieve information on your level of risk for a heart attack and suggestions for the steps to take next. Most importantly if you have any concerns at all or any of the above symptoms talk to your doctor immediately.
References
Hitti, M. (2005).
Men vs. Women: Confusion Over Heart Symptoms. Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20050218/men-vs-women-confusion-over-heart-symptoms
Mayo Clinic staff. (2012
). Heart-healthy diet: 8 steps to prevent heart disease. Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-healthy-diet/NU00196
Courtney,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post because I found it to be very informative. My grandmother experienced a heart attack about a year ago and was only given a 4% chance to live. She fortunately survived the incident and now has to follow a strict regimen in order to stay healthy. Also, my father was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure (following his battle with Thyroid cancer) and we now have a blood pressure machine at home. My sister and I like to use it and check our blood pressures daily. Although I had healthy numbers, my sister appeared to have pre-hypertension. She smokes cigarettes and I believe that is the reasoning behind her numbers. Maintaining good health and being active, as you mentioned, are ways to prevent heart disease. If more people were aware of how simple it could be to prevent heart disease, I think more people would exercise and eat right. Thanks for your post!
~Rachel
(p.s. I will now work out 30 minutes a day..how easy!)
Courtney,
ReplyDeleteThis is great information. I found the information that women take up to four hours to call the doctor or seek medical help very interesting and that men call sooner! I actually had a friend pass away from a heart attack. She kept having heart burn over and over. The doctor prescribed antacids for her but never ran any other tests or told her not to exercise as strenuously. One night she had that heart burn again, got some of her medicine and laid down. She died in her sleep. Earlier that same day she swam 10 laps at our local indoor pool. She tried to stay in shape and take care of herself. We could not believe she had died of a heart attack.
The more information we can get about our own health the better off we and our families will be. My friend's son has had to grow up without a mom.
Thank you for your great blog.
~Cathy
Courtney,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog on women and heart disease. I did my blog on the same topic. You found some really interesting facts in your research that I did not. I think that this topic is so important. Women need to know the risks. My mom had a stroke at age 48 in 2005. She has paralysis on the left side of her body.
Fallon Martin
Courtney,
ReplyDeleteThanks for providing us good information on heart disease. Many people do not realize how important it is to know the symptoms of a heart attack. In 2005 my grandmother was rushed to the hospital for possible heart attack. She mentioned that she felt a pain on her chest,but figured it was probably indigestion. the symptoms worsen and so did her condition. She had indeed suffered a heart attack and had bypass surgery. I am forever grateful for the EMT team that saved her life. I believe there is a need of awareness in our society, especially women. As women, we take care of others before ourselves. Let us be more proactive and initiate an awareness.
Sandy Cervantes