Women & Heart Attacks

February 11th, 2008 admin

Would you know if you were having a heart attack? Did you know that your symptoms may not be anything like what a man would feel-that stabbing pain in the chest and a cold sweet?

More women than men die of their first heart attack because they don’t recognize the symptoms. Many women think that they have indigestion or feel like they have just swallowed a golf ball. There may be pain in the jaw or pain under the sternum (breast bone). We tend to brush off things, not want to make a scene or think we will feel better later. Later may be too late.

If you feel any of those symptoms, call the paramedics immediately, do not wait 20 or 30 minutes. Time is crucial.

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The Heart Truth

February 11th, 2008 admin

Since Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, I thought it would be a great time to remind you that February is American Heart Month. Laura Bush has been the ambassador for The Heart Truth campaign since 2003. “With the many risk factors for heart disease, our greatest risk is ignorance,” says Mrs. Bush.

The Heart Truth is that heart disease is the #1 killer of American women. It is 10 times more deadly than breast cancer. After the age of 50, this disease develops at an alarming rate.

What are the risk factors? Aging, after menopause the risk increases. Smoking causes 65% of all heart attacks in young and middle-age women. Family history, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, elevated blood cholesterol and triglycerides are other factors. Hypertension is defined by chronically elevated blood pressure above 140/90 (mmHg), diabetes and stress also contribute to heart disease. The only risk factors that you cannot control are your family history and the fact that we are all aging.

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