Some people might believe cardiovascular disease primarily affects older men, the way we often see it play out on TV. While heart disease can impact anyone, regardless of gender, heart disease is still women's leading killer.
One woman dies from cardiovascular disease every 80 seconds—and that's not just women in their 60s. Cardiac events are on the rise for women as young as 20, especially if they smoke and use birth control pills.
Women don't even experience heart attacks the same way men do. Chest discomfort, the most common symptom for both genders, may feel like a weight on the chest to men, but women are more likely to report aching or a squeezing sensation. Women also experience:
- Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in one or both arms
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Unusual fatigue
- Heartburn or indigestion
According to the Mayo Clinic, risks that affect women more than men include diabetes, stress and depression and smoking. However, other biological factors such as menopause, pregnancy complications and family history can increase disease risk. If you had elevated blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy, you will likely develop heart disease. After menopause, blood pressure, iron levels, triglycerides and "bad" cholesterol levels increase, and cardiovascular disease risk follows suit.
It might seem like the deck is stacked against you when it comes to your heart's future, but in fact, you hold the trump card — the ability to reduce many risk factors by following these steps:
- Eat fruits, leafy vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, beans and fish with Omega-3 fatty acids.
- Exercise at least 150 minutes weekly. It can reduce coronary heart disease risk for women by up to 40%.
- Limit alcohol to one drink per day.
- Take up yoga, meditation or therapy to reduce stress.
Whatever your symptoms, take them seriously. Investigating a false alarm is better than a heart attack ignored.
