Heart disease is the number one cause of death in both men and women.
Many people consider cancer, especially breast cancer, to be the number one cause of death in women and therefore underestimate the importance of women’s heart health.
By understanding the significance of heart disease and recognizing heart attack symptoms, one can act quickly if the unthinkable happens.
The American Heart Association reports that every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. suffers a heart attack — the cessation or drastic reduction in the flow of blood that delivers oxygen to the heart.
Many heart attacks have signs that sometimes mimic other types of illness.
When a heart attack occurs, men and women can experience a classic presentation of extreme pain or pressure in the chest, sometimes described as the feeling of an “elephant sitting on the chest.” In fact, chest pain, pressure or tightness is the most common heart attack symptom for both men and women. However, there are other ways the body may tell us something is wrong.
Women are more likely than men to experience atypical symptoms. Understanding atypical heart attack warning signs, and reacting to them, can mean the difference between life and death.
If you experience the following, call 911 and get help immediately:
- Chest pain or discomfort. May feel like squeezing, fullness, pressure or pain in the center of the chest that lasts longer than a few moments or goes away and then comes back.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath. May accompany chest discomfort, or present on its own.
- Other signs. Unexplained sweating, nausea, lightheadedness or fatigue.
Prevention tips
Knowing how to prevent cardiovascular disease that can lead to a heart attack is just as important as recognizing the signs. The steps you should take depend on many factors, but in general, try these healthy lifestyle tips:
- Eat a diet rich in fruits/vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Incorporate regular cardiovascular activity
- Manage stress levels
- Have regular wellness checkups
- Avoid smoking
Your physician is your prevention partner and can help you create a wellness plan tailored to your age, lifestyle and family history. At your next visit, ask questions, discuss your concerns and learn the ways in which you can best maintain a healthy lifestyle that reduces your risk for cardiovascular disease and heart attack.
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