A HEART LESSON for every woman

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A HEART

LESSON for every woman

Most women don't realize

that heart disease is their biggest health danger. As a result, they may put

off taking action that could very well save their lives.

Cardiovascular disease kills nearly twice as

many women each year as all forms of cancer combined. Yet surveys show that

women underestimate the danger posed by cardiovascular disease, particularly

coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke. And, even the most knowledgeable

don’t always realize that CAD in women may differ in some respects from

CAD in men. Understanding those differences can be crucial for getting timely

treatment if heart-related problems arise.

The perils of plaque

Coronary artery disease occurs when

plaque—deposits of cholesterol and other substances—builds up in

the walls of the coronary arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart

muscle. The plaque stiffens the arteries (atherosclerosis) so that they are

less able to widen effectively. And, it narrows the passageway for blood flowing

to the heart. If narrowing becomes severe, the person may experience angina.

Angina is the chest pain or pressure that occurs when the heart’s blood

supply is less than what is needed—occurring usually during a time of

physical exertion or emotional stress.

If a blood clot forms and gets stuck in the

narrowed artery, it may stop the flow of blood completely—causing a heart

attack. (The area of heart muscle fed by that artery is damaged.) In recent

years, researchers have shown that most heart attacks occur as a result of an

area of plaque rupturing (breaking apart) and blood clots forming to repair it.

This repair further narrows the blood vessel.

Heart attack symptoms

Perhaps you know the classic, or typical,

signs of a heart attack: crushing pain or a squeezing feeling in the center of

the chest, sometimes radiating to the jaw or down the left arm; shortness of

breath; and a feeling of impending doom. But, in fact, a wide range of symptoms

can signal a heart attack. And, the not-so-classic symptoms appear to be more

common among women. In a recent study of 515 American women who’d

survived a heart attack, 43% said they did not have chest pain. The most

frequently reported symptoms when the women recalled their heart attack were

shortness of breath, weakness, unusual fatigue, and a cold sweat. Any

potential warning symptom should be checked out.

Risk factors

CAD can develop without your noticing that

anything is wrong—until a heart attack strikes. More than half of all

women who die suddenly of CAD had no complaints beforehand.

That’s why it’s so important for

every woman to know if she’s at risk for CAD.

Advancing age. In men,

the risk of a heart attack increases markedly after age 45; in women, the

risk rises sharply in the years after menopause (usually around age 50).

Although most heart attacks occur in people over age 65, they can occur in

younger people, too.

Heredity, having a family history of

early heart disease (a father or brother diagnosed before age 55 or a

mother or sister before age 65).

Diabetes. A woman with diabetes is 3 to

7 times more likely to develop CAD or suffer a heart attack than a woman

the same age without diabetes.

Abnormal blood fats. The main

risk factors are a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level of more

than 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of

blood or a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level of less than 40 mg/dL.

High blood pressure, above

120/80 mm Hg.

Smoking. Cigarette for cigarette,

smoking is more dangerous for a woman’s heart than for a

man’s.

Overweight, especially weight in the

abdominal area.

Inactivity. The more inactive a person

is, the greater the risk. Brisk walking for at least 30 minutes a day can

lower a woman’s risk by 30% to 40%.

If you have any of the above risk factors,

talk with your doctor about what you can do to guard against CAD.

From Mayo Clinic

Women’s Health Source and Circulation, a journal of the American Heart

Association