You may know that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one killer of women, but you may not know if you or someone you love is at risk. Our Lady of Peace Hospice and Home Healthcare would like to share information to help you figure that out and protect yourself and your loved ones from heart disease.
We turned to the American Heart Association for answers, as the organization goes red for women in February, American Heart Month.
Here are some facts for females on cardiovascular disease:
- Nearly 45% of women ages 20+ are living with some form of cardiovascular disease.
- Less than half of women entering pregnancy in the U.S. have optimal cardiovascular health.
- Women experience unique life stages, such as pregnancy and menopause, that can put them at an increased risk for CVD.
There are risk factors for heart disease you can’t control: Age, gender, heredity (family health history), race, and previous stroke or heart attack. But there are risk factors that can be managed: High blood pressure, smoking, high blood cholesterol, lack of regular activity, obesity or being overweight, and diabetes.
The best news is that even modest changes to your diet and lifestyle can improve your heart health and lower your risk by as much as 80%. So don’t delay scheduling an appointment with your doctor to determine your risk and act accordingly.
For men, the most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. Do you know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack in women? Here they are:
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.
It’s also good to know the signs and symptoms of stroke
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially
on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding.
- Sudden trouble seeing or blurred vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Learn more. Go to Go Red for Women, and be sure to talk to your friends. Women motivate each other, educate, support, and inspire each other. Let’s Go Red together to be seen, to be counted, to be heard, and to make an impact.