Saturday, October 8, 2011

the Signs of a Woman’s Heart Attack

Heart disease is currently the number one cause of death in postmenopausal women; more women die of heart disease than of lung cancer or breast cancer. Half of all North Americans who die from heart attacks each year are women. But heart disease doesn’t refer only to heart attacks; it includes strokes as well as a whole gamut of problems caused by poor circulation, known in clinical circles as
peripheral vascular disease, or more plainly, “blood circulation disease.” Peripheral vascular disease occurs when blood flow to the limbs (arms, legs, and feet) is blocked, which creates cramping, pains, or numbness. In fact, pain and numbing in your arms or legs may be signs of heart disease or even an imminent heart attack. A 1992 study reported that 20 percent of all women over age 60 suffered from peripheral vascular disease, and as more women approach menopause, that number will substantially increase.
One of the reasons for such high death rates from heart attacks among women is medical ignorance; most studies looking at heart disease have excluded women, which led to a myth that more men than women die of heart disease. The truth is more men die of heart attacks before age fifty, while more women die of heart attacks after age fifty, as a direct result of estrogen loss. Moreover, women who have had oopherectomies (removal of the ovaries) prior to natural menopause increase their risk of a heart attack eightfold. Since more women work outside the home than ever before, a number of experts cite stress as a major contributing factor
to increased rates of heart disease in women. Another problem is that women have different symptoms than men when it comes to heart disease, and so the “typical” warning signs we know about in men—angina, or chest pains—are often never present in women. In fact, chest pains in women are almost never related to heart disease.
When symptoms of heart disease are not “male,” many women are sent home to die—they are told that their heart attacks are “stress.” You’re about to change all of that. Never before have so many women been at risk for heart disease. As millions of women turn fifty in 2000, the medical community will be forced to recognize the unique warning signs of heart disease and heart attacks in women. This book discusses all the modifiable risk factors for heart disease and the warning signs of a heart attack—in WOMEN. The major risk factors for women’s heart disease are smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and an inactive lifestyle. The Nurses’ Health Study, a study that looked at 120,000 middle-aged women, found that women who were obese had two to three times more heart disease; this is particularly true for xiv Introduction women with apple-shaped figures (meaning abdominal or upper body fat).
Studies show that hormone replacement therapy can help reduce your risk of heart disease. It is estrogen that protects women from heart disease prior to menopause; after menopause, the rates of heart disease in women soar as a result of estrogen loss. Lifestyle changes can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease, as well. Women who are physically active have a 60 to 75 percent lower risk of heart disease than inactive women. So modifying your lifestyle (by stopping smoking, eating less fat, and getting more
exercise) can prevent heart and peripheral vascular disease.
Blood pressure–lowering medications and, in select women, cholesterol-lowering drugs are other options. In essence, this book is designed to help you prevent heart disease before it starts. But before I begin to show you the ways to prevent heart disease, the first thing you must know are warning signs to watch for. You see, for women, the symptoms of heart disease and even an actual heart attack can be vague—seemingly unrelated to heart problems. Signs of heart disease in women include some surprising symptoms:
• Shortness of breath and/or fatigue
• Jaw pain (often masked by arthritis and joint pain)
• Pain in the back of the neck (often masked by arthritis or joint pain)
• Pain down the right or left arm
• Back pain (often masked by arthritis and joint pain)
• Sweating (often masked by the discomforts of menopause)
• Fainting
Introduction
• Palpitations
• Bloating (after menopause, would you believe this is a sign of coronary artery blockage?)
• Heartburn, belching, or other gastrointestinal pain (this is often a sign of an actual heart attack in women)
• Chest “heaviness” between the breasts; this is how women experience chest pain; some describe it as a sinking feeling or burning sensation, also described as an aching, throbbing, or a squeezing sensation, or a feeling that your heart jumps into your throat
• If you’re diabetic, sudden swings in blood sugar
• Vomiting
• Confusion
If you now think you have heart disease, the following diagnostic tests can confirm it:
• Manual exam (doctor examining you with a stethoscope)
• Electrocardiogram
• Exercise stress test
• Echocardiogram
• Imaging tests that may use radioactive substances to take pictures of the heart
Now let’s start counting the ways you can achieve a healthier heart and a higher quality of life.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Share

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More