Women and Heart Disease

Summary

A new video that underscores the prevalence of heart disease among women and helps them assess their individual risks. This video shows women how to protect and promote their heart health. The role of estrogen is discussed. This video presents the unique symptoms of heart disease in women and a range of options for reducing long-term risks.

Details

Heart disease:

• affects about one in two American women
• is the number one cause of death and disability in women

You are more likely to develop heart disease or suffer a heart attack if you have certain risk factors.

Risk factors are things that contribute to the build up of plaque in your blood vessels, a major cause of heart disease.

Uncontrollable risk factors:

• family history of heart disease
• family history of diabetes, high blood cholesterol, or high blood pressure
• age:
  • men's risk increases at 45
  • women's risk increases at 55, perhaps due to estrogen levels. By 65 a woman's risk almost equals a man's

Controllable risk factors:

• high blood pressure, or hypertension
• high blood cholesterol
• smoking
• physical inactivity
• being overweight

Nearly half of women over 65 have high blood cholesterol.

High blood pressure affects half of women over 55, especially among African-American women.

Smokers are two to six times more likely to have a heart attack than nonsmokers.

Physical inactivity, or lack of regular exercise, weakens your heart muscle and can lead to being overweight.

Being even ten to twenty pounds overweight increases your risk for heart disease.

More women than men develop diabetes and most people with diabetes eventually die of heart disease.

Stress and depression may also increase your risk for heart disease.

People with depression are more likely to develop heart disease, or die from a heart attack, than those who are not depressed.

More than one alcoholic drink per day increases risk. Alcohol can weaken the heart muscle and contribute to high blood pressure.

Women over 50 should have an annual heart-health assessment.

Blood pressure testing:

• shows the amount of force your blood exerts on your vessel walls
• optimal: less than 120 over 80
• high: 140 over 90 or higher
• borderline: greater than 130 over 85

Cholesterol levels:

• total blood cholesterol under 200
• fewer than two risk factors, LDL under 160
• two or more risk factors, LDL under 130
• HDL over 45
• triglycerides under 200

Risk factor reduction requires re-educating yourself, as well as making some changes in your life.

Guideline for heart-healthy eating:

• low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol
• high in fiber
• low in salt and sugar
• low in calories

Physical activity:

• minimum of thirty minutes of aerobic exercise four to five days a week

Women are less likely than men to survive a first heart attack.

Angina:

• most common symptom of heart disease and heart attack
• pressure, tightness, or a squeezing, burning, or full feeling usually in the chest
• stop what you're doing and rest. If the pain goes away, call your doctor immediately

Heart attack:

• angina:
  • spreads to the neck, jaw, arm, or even your back
  • more intense or lasts longer than fifteen minutes
  • begins at rest or doesn't go away with rest
  • goes away but then comes back
• lightheadedness, fainting
• sweating
• palpitations or racing heart
• nausea, indigestion
• fatigue
• headache
• shortness of breath

If you think you're having a heart attack:

• sit or lie down
• if you have nitroglycerine, take it according to instructions
• seek immediate medical attention
• chew two adult strength aspirin