Cardiovascular Disease:
The Leading Cause
of Death in Women
Did you know that cardiovascular disease (CVD)
claims more lives each year than the next six
common causes of death combined? Nearly one in
four females and one in four males in the United
States suffer from some form of CVD, which includes
both heart and blood vessel diseases.
Are Women at a Higher Risk?
While both
men and women are at high risk for developing
heart disease and/or stroke, CVD, the single
leading cause of death for women in America,
kills nearly 500,000 women each year. That's
about one death every minute. Unfortunately,
only 13 percent of women identify heart disease
as the greatest health problem facing women today.
Most women think that breast cancer is the leading
cause of death in women.
Women have an increased risk of developing CVD
because diagnosing heart disease is more difficult
in women than in men. While both men and women
present the classical chest pain symptoms associated
with cardiovascular disease, women have a greater
tendency to show atypical symptoms, including:
- Unusual or unexplained fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Shortness of breath
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Nausea
- Anxiety
Many women reported warning symptoms one
month before having a heart attack.
Ignoring or misinterpreting these symptoms can
have fatal consequences. If you are unsure about
any of the symptoms you may be experiencing,
contact your health care provider immediately.
A Healthy Heart is Within Your Control!
While
these statistics may seem discouraging, keep
in mind that cardiovascular disease is preventable
with lifestyle changes. Understanding and controlling
the risk factors for developing heart disease
can be your best defense against it. Medications
are often an essential key to treatment. If risk
factors cannot be controlled with lifestyle changes,
you and your doctor may consider a more aggressive
approach, including medications to lower these
risk factors.
The risk factors for heart disease
that you have power over include:
- Smoking: The risk of developing coronary
heart disease for smokers is two to four times
that of nonsmokers. Quitting smoking should
be the first step on your journey to a healthier
heart.
- Being Overweight: Excess body fat
around the waist raises the risk of developing
heart disease or having a stroke. Cutting out
a few hundred calories a day can help you lose
up to two pounds per week and help you attain
a more heart-healthy weight.
- High blood pressure: Hypertension
can increase your risk of heart attack and
stroke. Control your blood pressure by cutting
your overall sodium intake, eating more fruits
and vegetables, and maintaining a healthy weight.
If your high blood pressure cannot be controlled
with lifestyle changes, medications may be
prescribed by your doctor.
- High cholesterol: Those with high
cholesterol have increased risk of coronary
heart disease. Have yours checked by your doctor,
and maintain a diet low in saturated fats,
trans fats and cholesterol. If your high cholesterol
cannot be controlled with lifestyle changes,
medications may be prescribed by your doctor.
- Diabetes: Diabetes increases the risk
of heart disease and stroke. With the help
of your physician, make sure your blood sugar
level is under control.
- Inactivity: The benefits of exercise
for your heart are immeasurable. Aim for
at least 30 minutes of physical activity 3
to 5 times per week to maintain a heart-healthy
weight and decrease your risk of cardiovascular
disease.
For additional resources visit the American
Heart Association or Go
Red For Women web sites.
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