The Truth About Heart Disease in Women (1100 hits)
February 24, 2014
A lot of women have misconceptions about cardiovascular health. Do you? Find out what’s fact or fiction when it comes to heart disease in women... Do you believe heart disease is something only guys need to worry about? Think again. Heart disease in women causes nearly 420,000 deaths a year, more than any other ailment, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Six times as many women die from heart attacks as from breast cancer.
As many as 90% of women have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking (including secondhand smoke) or family history, according to the AHA.
Forty-three million American women already have heart disease, but most don’t realize the risk it poses to their health – and lives. Nearly two-thirds of women who die suddenly of heart-related illness had no symptoms, the AHA says. In other words, what you don’t know about heart disease in women can hurt you – so it’s important to stay informed. Lifescript talked with top cardiologists to separate truth from fiction when it comes to your heart.
Fact or fiction? Chest pain is the main sign of a heart attack in women. ..."Fiction: Some women experience “classic” heart attack signs such as chest pain, but women are more likely than men to have subtler symptoms, such as shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting and back or jaw pain, according to the AHA. Other signs of a heart attack may include dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, pain in the lower chest or upper stomach area and extreme fatigue..."
