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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, affecting 1 in 2 women in our lifetimes.
It’s really important to know the warning signs and your risks. Although it was once
thought of as a man’s disease, more women than men are dying of heart disease. So, really
it’s become a woman’s disease. Heart disease kills quickly and suddenly. 1 in 2 people
with their first heart attack never make it to hospital. The most common symptom in women
and men is chest pain. But sometimes women and men may have different symptoms. Women
may also experience their pain differently, or describe their pain differently. Warning
signs to look out for include: discomfort in the upper back, shoulders, arms, jaw, a
feeling of not being able to get enough air in, fatigue, indigestion, excessive sweatiness,
basically anything above the waste that doesn’t feel right for you. It’s important that
if you feel signs or symptoms of heart disease to seek medical attention immediately. Often
women minimize their symptoms or don’t make their own health a priority. Delaying treatment,
for even a short time, may mean the difference between preserving heart function and long
term heart damage, and even life or death. Women should be aware of their heart health
risk at all ages. Younger women are protected by estrogen and the heart disease risk goes
up after menopause. However, certain conditions do cancel out the protective effects of estrogen.
And this includes type 2 diabetes, a family history of early heart disease, and smoking.
It’s very important to modify your risk factors by trying to lead a heart healthy
lifestyle. And this includes managing your weight with regular exercise, quitting smoking,
and eating a heart healthy diet. Awareness is key to saving women’s lives.