Many people believe that heart disease occurs primarily in men, but the disease is actually the No. 1 killer of both women and men. Women also are less likely than men to survive a heart attack, and to complicate matters, they often experience different symptoms.
Chest pain typically associated with a heart attack was originally identified by now-outdated studies based on mostly white, middle-aged men. Women may not necessarily experience “chest pain” in the traditional sense, but might describe tightness, squeezing, spasms, or “feeling of fullness” in the chest or upper abdomen.
Women may also feel discomfort in the chest that extends to the shoulders, back, jaw or teeth. These symptoms may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, dizziness or shortness of breath. In some cases, women may not have any symptoms at all.
The first hour of a heart attack is critical, so it’s imperative to call 911 if you are experiencing any of these symptoms – whether you’re a woman or a man. That’s because a heart attack is actually an injury to the heart muscle due to a loss of blood supply, and as each minute passes, more tissue is deprived of oxygen and deteriorates or dies.
Women who survive a heart attack can face a lifetime of challenges. According to the American Heart Association, 23 percent of women die within a year after surviving a heart attack, and approximately 46 percent more develop a severely weakened heart or heart failure.
Who’s most at risk for heart disease? Family history of it increases your chances, which is something a woman cannot control, and so does menopause. There are other risk factors – smoking, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and lack of exercise – that a woman can modify, treat or control. It is important for women to understand that by eliminating as many of their risk factors as possible they increase their chances of preventing heart disease.
Establishing a positive family history for heart disease isn’t always a black-and-white situation. A person whose first-degree family members (e.g., parent, sibling, offspring) have had heart disease at a younger age – a father who had heart disease before 45, or a mother who had heart disease before menopause, usually before age 50 – would demonstrate positive family history. However, family history may not be considered a prominent risk factor if the father had a heart attack later in life, such as in his 50s or 60s. Ultimately, the best way to understand how your family history may define your risk is to consult your physician.
The following tips can help prevent heart disease in both women and men:
• Don’t smoke.
• Help keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels down by managing your weight and eating more fruits, vegetable and grains. Cut down on your portions. Reduce your intake of foods that are high in sodium or fat.
• Drink alcohol only in moderation.
• Exercise at least three to four times a week for 30 minutes to help keep your heart and blood vessels toned.