Women and Heart Disease

• More women than men die of heart disease each year.
• Women are six times as likely to die of heart disease as of breast cancer.
• Heart disease kills more women over 65 than do all cancers combined.

The medical experts at the St. Joseph Hospital Heart and Vascular Center urge women to be aware of the warning signs of  heart disease -- which can be quite different than a man's, such as:

• Neck, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sweating
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Unusual fatigue

These symptoms are more subtle than chest pain, mostly because women tend to have blockages not only in their main arteries, but also in the smaller arteries that supply blood to the heart.

Heart disease risk factors for women
In addition to traditional risk factors for heart disease (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity) the following additional risk  factors may play a role in the development of heart disease in women:

• Metabolic syndrome. A combination of fat around your abdomen, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high triglycerides has a greater impact on women than on men.
• Mental stress and depression. Depression is twice as common in women as in men, and it increases the risk of heart disease by two to three times compared with those who aren't depressed.
• Smoking is a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than in men. If you need help, click here.
• Low levels of estrogen after menopause pose a significant risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease in the smaller blood vessels.

Reducing your risk factors
Try the following heart-healthy tips to reduce your risk factors for heart disease:

• Exercise 30 to 60 minutes a day on most days of the week. If you can't get all of your exercise completed in one session, it's fine to break up your physical activity into several 10- to 15-minute sessions. You'll still get the same heart-health benefits.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Losing just 10 to 15 pounds can help lower your blood pressure and help prevent diabetes, which are two risk factors for heart disease.
• Quit or don't start smoking.
• Eat a diet that's low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt. 
• Limit alcohol.  Excessive drinking and binge drinking can contribute to obesity, high triglycerides, cancer and other diseases, raise blood pressure, cause heart failure and lead to stroke. Pregnant women should not drink alcohol in any form.
• Manage your stress with yoga or meditation. Unhealthy responses to stress may lead to other risk behaviors like smoking and overeating. 

For more information on women and heart disease, visit the St. Joseph Hospital Resource Library by clicking here.

For more information on heart and vascular screenings, click here.