According to the America Heart Association, more than one in three women is living with some form of cardiovascular disease. For women, heart disease is deadlier than most cancers combined! Heart disease and stroke cause one in three deaths among women each year.
Over time, coronary heart disease leads to plaque build-up which limits blood flow – similar to a pipe clogging up with dirt and not letting water flow through.
What are heart attack symptoms in women?
Women tend to present different types of pain during an acute heart attack compared to men.
It’s more difficult in women to identify heart disease. We used to think women were more protected from heart disease until menopause due to estrogen production, but we are seeing younger and younger women who are coming in with heart disease or having heart attacks.
Here are a few differences in heart attack symptoms to watch for:
- Pain during sleep
- Sudden onset of extreme fatigue
- Drenching sweat
- Elbow and neck pain
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Tightness in chest
- Breathlessness
Am I at an increased risk of heart disease?
While traditional risk factors for heart disease affect both men and women, there are other factors that can play a role in the development of disease in women. Heart disease risks include:
- Family history of early heart disease
- Decreased estrogen production after menopause
- Having diabetes
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
Find out your risk for heart disease
What can I do to prevent heart disease?
Living a heart healthy lifestyle can help prevent and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Heart disease in women has a lot to do with their lifestyle. Your lifestyle in your 20’s may not seem like a big deal, but it catches up once you turn 30 and develop high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and other risk factors.
Here are some changes you can make today:
- Follow a heart healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Quit smoking
- Know your A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol and weight
- Know your family history
- Monitor your alcohol intake
- Take your prescribed medications
- Monitor your stress levels
