Facts About Women and Heart Disease

Heart disease is now the number one killer of women. Women of all ages can get heart disease. Knowing your risk factors and making changes can help you fight heart disease.

To lower your risk for heart disease:

• Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol within normal ranges.
• Stay smoke free.
• Limit exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercise 30 minutes at least five days a week.

Signs of heart attack in women.

Women and men may have different warning signs for a heart attack.

Classic signs of a heart attack:

• Chest pain or discomfort in the chest that lasts more than a few minutes. It can feel like an “elephant sitting on my chest.”
• Pain that spreads into the left arm.
• Nausea.
• Sweating.

Many women have these symptoms:

• Shortness of breath.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness, or squeezing not in the center or the left side of the chest.
• Indigestion or heartburn.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Feeling afraid or anxious.
• Right shoulder pain or pain high in the chest.
• Mid-back pain.
• Breaking out in a cold sweat.
• Palpitations or rapid heartbeat.
• Dizziness.
• Fainting.

You should know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Make a yearly checkup with your doctor.
 

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