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10 THINGS WOMEN NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

I. Heart Disease Is the #1 Silent Killer of Indian Women

  • Cardiovascular disease kills more women than the next 7 causes of death combined
  • Cardiovascular disease is estimated to claim the life of 1 in 3 women
  • One woman dies of heart disease every minute
  • Over half a million Indian women die annually from it
  • More women than men die each year from cardiovascular disease
  •  Women of all ages are at risk

II. Cardiovascular Disease Kills More Women Than Men

III. Cardiovascular Disease Can Be Different in Women

IV. Signs and Symptoms of Heart Disease Can Be Different in Women

  • Women are not educated to suspect heart disease as a cause of certain symptoms
  • Women may have warning symptoms that can be linked to other conditions
  • When symptoms are vague, women may not be treated as aggressively
  • Women often delay seeking medical attention, which leads to poorer outcomes

Less Typical Symptoms of Heart Disease in Women

  • Pain in upper back, jaw, or neck
  • Shortness of breath
  • Flu-like symptoms: nausea or vomiting, cold sweats
  • Fatigue or weakness
  • Feelings of anxiety, loss of appetite, discomfort

Heart Attack Warning Signs

  • Pressure, burning, squeezing in the center of the chest
  • Discomfort in one or both arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, stomach or back
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue, cold sweat, nausea, weakness

Stroke Warning Signs

  • Sudden numbness or weakness, usually on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding
  • Sudden vision problems
  • Sudden loss of balance, coordination
  • Sudden, severe headache

V. Some Tests Are Less Accurate in Women

VI. Today Treatment Options Exist for Heart Disease

Treatment options include:

  • Medications
  • Balloon angioplasty and stenting
  • Heart bypass surgery
  • Pacemakers for slow heart rhythms
  • Defibrillators for fast heart rhythms
  • Heart valves

However, Women May Be Less Likely to Receive Treatment

  • Women are more likely to see only OB/GYNs or other primary care physician whose focus may not be heart disease
  • Women are not screened as aggressively as men
  • Heart and blood vessel disease in women are more difficult to diagnose and treat because women have more diffuse disease, which effects smaller vessels

Women May Have Poorer Outcomes

  • More women die within one year after a heart attack
  • More women have bleeding complication after invasive heart procedures and/or use of clot-busting drugs
  • Women have higher mortality after bypass surgery
  • Women are more likely to be disabled by stroke or heart failure

VII. Women Can Reduce Their Risk of Heart Disease

Some risk factors CANNOT be controlled

Increasing Age,Family history,Race,Prior heart attack or stroke

Some risk factors CAN be controlled

Hypertension,High Cholesterol,Smoking

VIII. Know Your Numbers

  • Estrogen and Menopause May Be
    Related to Heart Disease
  • Estrogen increases production of “good” cholesterol (HDL)
  • As women get older and estrogen decreases, they experience lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL)
  • Women will live one third of their lives after menopause
  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) should not be used for the purpose of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in women

IX. Adopt the Heart Healthy Lifestyle

  • Stop smoking
  • Be physically active for 30 minutes a day
  • Eat a heart healthy diet.
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Manage your blood pressure
  • If you have diabetes, control your
    blood sugar
  • Talk to your doctor about depression
  • Consume alcohol in moderation

X. Every Woman Can Take Action to Improve Her Heart Health

  • Discuss your risk with your physician
  • Change your lifestyle to reduce your risk
  • Insist on treatment for your symptoms
  • Seek additional medical opinion if you feel your symptoms are not being treated aggressively enough .Take action to educate others.
  • Learn CPR

For Further reading:

 

1)https://healthplans.providence.org/fittogether/find-your-fit/prevention/womens-health/10-things-every-woman-should-know-about-heart-disease/

2)https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/heart-health/10-things-women-should-know-about-their-heart

3)https://mom.com/momlife/204944-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-women-and-heart-disease

 

 

 

 

8 replies on “10 THINGS WOMEN NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH”

Thanks for sharing such useful information …it will definately help me and others around me to be more health conscious.

Myself stands highly enriched with these valid piece of information. Thanks dr vartika.

Really very informative and useful tips, which should be adhered and good to share in public domain for benefit of all. Thanks for sharing.?

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