Women and Heart Disease; What You Should Know
By Stephen R. Farris
Did you know the symptoms of a heart attack may be different for women than men? While chest pain is common in both sexes, women may also experience dizziness, become nauseated, and have shortness of breath.
According to research, women may have other heart attack related symptoms such as:
- Pain or discomfort in the back, jaw, stomach, or both arms
- Cold sweats
- Shortness of breath, that could come with or without pain in the chest
- Throwing up
If you experience these you should seek medical help as soon as possible. About 1 in 5 deaths for women are related to heart disease, and is the leading cause of death for females in the U.S.
Women with certain risk factors can be at greater risk of developing heart disease. Some of those include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Family history
- Sedentary lifestyle
Even women that may not have these risk factors, should take precautions to ensure they are maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Studies performed by the Center for Disease Control has shown that awareness concerning heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks has dropped tremendously between 2009 and 2019.
The majority of unawareness lies with women under the age of 34, and in Hispanic women as well as non-Hispanic black women.
Researchers point out that the drop in unawareness of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack symptoms is the lack of education on the subjects.
Education is the key to helping prevent heart disease and stroke. It may take a few changes to one's lifestyle in order to achieve heart-healthy goals. To begin with, start with your diet. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and reduce your intake of saturated fats, salt, cholesterol, and processed sugars. In addition changing your diet, you might include the following:
- Stop smoking
- Limit alcoholic beverages
- Manage your stress levels
- Find out more about your family's medical history
- Exercise
If you have questions about your health, talk with your local chiropractor to hear tips and suggestions they offer to help you get on the road to a healthier lifestyle.
And if you are experiencing pain in your back, neck, and/or joints, your chiropractor can help you get relief from those too.
Don't wait, get checked out today!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Jacksonville, Fla.