Women and Heart Disease
Not for Men Only
Do you think that only men get heart disease? In fact, heart disease is the number-one cause of death in women, too. It strikes 1 out of 4 women over the age of 65. Eight times as many women die of heart disease each year as die of breast cancer. But there's good news. you can reduce your chances of getting heart disease. Even if you have heart disease now, you can help slow it down.
The Earlier You Do Something the Better
To reduce your chances of getting heart disease, first you need to know your risks. Then you can make a plan to lower them. Your plan will likely include eating a low fat diet, getting regular exercise, controlling stress, and , if you smoke, quitting. These changes in your lifestyle will help you keep your cholesterol down and your blood pressure under control. They'll also help you maintain a healthy weight. But you don't have to change everything at once. Begin by making small changes. Use this site to help you get started.
What a Woman Needs to Know
High levels of cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease in both women and men. But there are special concerns for women, too. A woman's risk of getting heart disease goes up rapidly after menopause Women do not always feel the symptoms of heart disease the same way men do. And women's bodies may not respond the same as men's to tests for heart disease.
Good Cholesterol, Bad Cholesterol
You may know that your cholesterol should be under 200. But did you know there are two kinds of cholesterol? LDL or "bad" cholesterol builds up on the walls of the blood vessels. HDL or "good" cholesterol removes LDL cholesterol from the blood vessels. Even if your total cholesterol is under 200, your LDL level can still be too high. That's because the goal for LDL varies, depending on each person's risks. Talk with your doctor about the target goal that's best for you. Keep in mind, HDL cholesterol should be 40 or higher. Having your LDL and HDL cholesterol checked helps you know more about your risks for heart disease.
Hormone Replacement
During the years before menopause, an woman's natural estrogen (female hormone) seems to protect her against heart disease. Estrogen appears to raise the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in the blood. After menopause, women no longer produce estrogen. Their risk for heart disease rises sharply at this time. About 10 years after menopause, a woman's risk is equal to a man's. However, taking estrogen may not be right for all women. Talk with your health care provider about the benefits and risks of hormone replacement for you.
Symptoms of Heart Disease
Women don't always feel the warning signs of heart disease the same way men do. For women, chest pain (angina) or a feeling of pressure may come and go and it may occur in the upper abdomen rather than the center of the chest. A woman may also have trouble breathing or feel weak or tired when doing something that used to be easy. Or she may have heartburn or nausea that doesn't seem related to anything she has eaten. If you feel any of these signs for more than 10 minutes, call your heath care provider or 911 right away.