Heart Disease is the number one killer of American women. Statistics show that it accounts for nearly one-third of all female deaths. That is six times as many deaths as is caused from breast cancer. Wake up ladies!
In 2004, in the state of South Carolina alone more than 144,00 women suffered from heart disease. In local communities more than 500-600 women a year are sent to hospitals with some form of heart disease.
Still we find that many women do not recognize heart attack symptoms. Many others simply delay calling for assistance (either because they don’t understand or they are just plain afraid); this puts their health and their lives in jeopardy.
As women, we need to know our unique heart attack symptoms. Please understand these can be quite different from a man’s. IF YOU EVEN THINK THAT YOU MAY BE HAVING A HEART ATTACK ~~ CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY, WITHOUT DELAY! Even if it is a false alarm, when you life is at stack this is the least of your worries.
Point to Remember ~ When thinking of heart attack symptoms, you may think of someone gripping their chest in pain or gasping for breath. You would be right – some of the time.
While chest discomfort may be the leading cause of heart attack in both men and women, in women it can feel a lot different than we would even expect.
OUR UNIQUE SYMPTOMS
Very often a woman’s heart attack feels like an uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. It usually starts in the center of the chest, lasting for sometimes no more than a few minutes.
During a heart attack other areas of your upper body may experience discomfort as well. You could have pain in your arms, back, neck, lower jaw, or stomach. This may be accompanied by shortness of breath or other symptoms such as nausea or vomiting.
While chest discomfort may be the primary symptom, studies show that almost a third of all women experience no chest pain at all. Instead they experience shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain or pain in the lower jaw.
Of course these symptoms will vary from woman to woman; pain can come and go, it can either be mild or severe. The thing to know is that it is an unusual~ pain, different than one you have felt before. When this is the case call 911 or your local paramedics immediately.
LISTEN MY SISTERS ~~DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL!!
To Your Continued Health and Success
Julia Gray, Licensed Practical Nurse
Heart Disease is the No. 1 cause of death for men and women in the U.S. And, Stroke is the No 3 cause. This means it’s important for you to do everything you can to reduce your risk and prevent a heart attack or stroke.
Learn about the things that increase your risk and take steps to make changes. Even if you’ve already had a heart attack or stroke, it’s not too late to improve your health and prevent future damage to your heart or brain.
KNOW YOUR RISK
Your risk of a heart attack or stroke increases if you:
have high blood pressure
have high cholesterol
have a family history of heart attack, stroke, or heart disease
have had a heart attack or stroke
are overweight or obese
have diabetes
smoke
If you’ve already had a heart attack or stroke, then you know it’s important to prevent having another one in the future. Lifestyle changes and taking medications can reduce your risk. It’s important to make a treatment plan with your doctor and stick to it.
Personal and Close to Home ~~~
This past weekend Saturday and Sunday consecutively two of my dear friend’s husbands had ‘heart attacks’. It was very scary there for a while for all of us. These men are 55 and 58 (not very old in the scheme of things) One was dealing with extremely high blood pressure; the other, this was his 3rd heart attack and he had also undergone open heart surgery about 3 years ago. Both were diagnosed with a blocked coronary artery (arteries that service the heart).
What Happens
Over time, high blood pressure can damage your artery walls and cause them to harden and thicken.
Plague, which consists of cholesterol, fat, calcium and other substances, can build up in the damaged lining of an artery. Over time, it narrows and blocks the artery. As this plaque continues to build, the artery becomes narrower, harder and less flexible. This reduces blood flow to the artery.
Eventually, the plaque cracks. If this happens, platelets, which are particles in the blood, clump together on or near the crack and can form a clot, thus cutting off the blood flow to the heart or brain – thus leading to a heart attack or stroke.
WARNING SIGNS Symptoms of a heart attack or stroke are not the same for everyone. Also signs of a second heart attack or stroke may be different from those a person experienced the first time.
HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS
pain or discomfort in one or both arms, your back, neck, jaw or stomach
pain or discomfort in the center of your chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
pressure, squeezing or fullness in the chest
shortness of breath
nausea, vomiting, cold sweat or dizziness
STROKE SYMPTOMS
sudden numbness or weakness in your face, arm or leg on one side of your body
trouble walking or dizziness
sudden confusion or trouble speaking
loss of vision in one or both eyes
sudden, severe headache
NOTE: Women’s Symptoms May be Different In addition to the symptoms listed above, Women may also experience such things as:
- unusual fatigue
- sleep disturbance and anxiety ‘weeks’ before a heart attack
Minutes Matter – Every Second Counts…
If you or a loved one or someone you know are experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, have someone drive you or them to the nearest emergency room or in most cases CALL 911. Many people waste valuable time thinking the symptoms aren’t serious, but it’s important to take action as soon as your symptoms appear. About 50 percent of people who die from a heart attack die within one hour of the onset of symptoms. And, it’s no different for stroke patients –every minute that passes increases your risk of serous brain damage or disability.
REDUCE YOUR RISK 10 Lifestyle Changes that You Can Make to Reduce Your Risk of a Heart Attack or Stroke.
1. Reduce High Blood Pressure. If you have high blood pressure, make a plan with your doctor to lower it. Work with your doctor to reduce your current blood pressure.
2. Reduce High Cholesterol. Talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes and medications that can help you get your cholesterol under control.
3. Lose Weight. If you have extra body fat — especially around your waist— your risk increases. Losing just 10 pounds can reduce your risk. Make sure to talk to your docor before beginning a wight loss or exercise plan.
4. Be Active. Start slowly and add minutes to your workout everyday. Try to make exercise part or your daily routine. If you have had trouble sticking to an exercise plan in the past, choose activities that you enjoy and recruit friends and family to join you. If you miss a day, don’t be discouraged — just start again the next day.
5. Control your Diabetes. Monitor your blood glucose. The American Diabetes Association recommends that your A1C (the test that measures your average glucose over two or three months) be below 7 percent.
6. Quit Smoking. If you smoke, your risk of having a heart attack doubles. But, after just 24 hours of quitting, your risk goes down. After one year, your risk is half that of a smoker, and after 15 years, your risk will be the same as that of a nonsmoker.
7. Avoid Excessive Alcohol Use. Limit your alcohol intake to one drink per day for women (two for men). One drink is equal to 12 oz of beer, 4 oz o wine, or 1.5 oz of 80-proof liquor.
8. Reduce Stress. High stress levels can contribute to heart disease. Take steps to reduce stress in your life, and consider practicing relaxation techniques, such as yoga or meditation or getting a periodic massage.
9. Eat a Healthy Diet. Talk to your doctor abut developing a plan to help you eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables, and low in sodium. Read nutritional labels on packaged food, and pay close attention to total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium.
10. Talk Openly to Your Doctor. It’s normal to experience anger, guilt or depression after having a heart attack or stroke. Your doctor can help.
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