Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States among men and women, with women accounting for nearly half of all deaths by the disease. Women are more likely to delay seeking medical treatment because their warning signs can mimic other conditions like indigestion or anxiety. If you are a woman, it is important for you to learn the follow warning signs of a heart disease so you can seek help immediately.
Signs of Heart Disease
1. Chest pain--you experienced a pain or discomfort located in the center of your chest that may radiate to your jaw, neck or back. You may describe the discomfort as a pressure, a tight ache or burning sensation. The pain may come and go but typically lasts longer than a few minutes.
2. Shortness of breath--you find yourself panting and gasping for air when doing everyday activities, such as walking upstairs, doing laundry or showering.
3. Anxiety--you suddenly start panicking and feel a sense doom with no explanation.
4. Unusual or unexplained fatigue--you constantly feel extremely tired, restless, and unmotivated.
5. Sweating--your body loses a sense of temperature control, where you're constantly sweating, but your skin is cold and clammy.
Call 911
It is important not to downplay, dismiss or tough out your symptoms. Call 911 immediately for help because the quicker you get treatment, the greater your chance of survival.
At the Emergency Room
When you arrive at the E.R. someone will take an ECG (electrocardiogram) on you to check your heart rate and rhythm. The ECG alone can show if you have heart disease, but typically blood is also drawn. Your heart releases chemicals when it undergoes any damage that can be detected with a blood sample. If both of these tests are negative, other diagnostic measures will be taken to ensure your heart is healthy.
Reducing Your Risk
There are cardiovascular risk factors you have control over and should adjust accordingly to reduce your chances of heart disease. First of all take into consideration your blood pressure, which has a high linkage to the plaque build-up in your arteries. A normal blood pressure is less than 140/90 mmHg. On your next doctor's appointment have them check your blood pressure. The American Heart Association has shown reducing your sodium intake can help decrease your blood pressure.
Next, if you are a smoker, quit. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, smokers are roughly at 2.5 times greater risk for heart disease than non-smokers. After six months of being smoke-free your risk of heart disease decreases dramatically.
Make sure your cholesterol is measured at your annual checkup. It is important to regulate your total cholesterol and triglyceride levels because they influence the amount of plaque build-up in your arteries. If you have high cholesterol the Mayo Clinic suggests decreasing the amount of saturated fats you consume.
