We Are Not Immune: Women and Heart Attacks
Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America.
Approximately 1 in 3 women die each year due to heart attack or
stroke. Nearly twice as many women die of heart disease or
stroke, than they do of any form of cancer, including breast
cancer. Women are less likely than men to seek medical attention
when having a heart attack. For this reason it is important to
know the warning signs and symptoms and what to do in the event
you feel you are having a heart attack.
Signs and symptoms of a heart attack:
Shortness of breath, often without any chest pain
Flu-like symptoms such as nausea, clamminess or cold sweats
Unexplained fatigue, weakness or dizziness
Pain in the chest, upper back, shoulders, neck, or jaw
Feelings of anxiety, loss of appetite, discomfort.
If you notice one or more of these warning signs, don't wait
more than a few minutes. Do not wait longer than 5 minutes. Call
911 right away!! If you are driving in your car at the time, it
is imperative that you pull the car over as soon as possible.
You could lose consciousness at any moment. If you have any
available and you have no known allergies to aspirin, chew 1
regular tablet of aspirin while you wait for medical help to
arrive.
Here are some tips on how you can avoid having a heart attack.
Quit smoking
Eat a healthy diet and cut back on foods high in saturated fats
and sodium.
Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
Exercise regularly. This may sound difficult if you're not one
who exercises but start out slowly. A brisk walk 30 minutes a
day can reduce your risk of a heart attack.
Lose weight if you are overweight.
Control your blood pressure if you have hypertension.
A healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and eating right
could help decrease your risk of heart disease and heart attack
and increase your longevity.