Women and Heart Disease, Are You at Risk?

Women and Heart Disease, Are You at Risk?

Rachel Oesterreich, Yahoo Contributor Network

Heart Disease affects the most important muscle in our body. Women may experience different signs and symptoms than men. This article will expand on some of those signs and symptoms women need to be looking for in heart disease.

Classic Symptoms of Heart Disease in Women

1. Unusual fatigue

2. Shortness of breath during normal activities

3. Nausea

4. Dizziness

5. Lower chest discomfort

6. Upper abdominal pain

For both men and women, the most important muscle in our body is the heart. Among other things, this very important muscle allows us to live every minute of every day on this beautiful planet Earth. Men and women may have similar organs, tissues, and cells, but the way these living things function within our bodies can be much different. In fact, women tend to have proportionately smaller hearts with different time periods of experiencing signs and symptoms of heart disease (Goldberg, 2002). Next we will discuss the classic symptoms of heart attacks that women and men may experience, but also some symptoms that are more common in women than men.

Some classical signs and symptoms of heart disease discovered, treated, and researched throughout the years, especially in men, according to Goldberg (2002) include "pressure, fullness, squeezing pain in the center of the chest that could spread to the neck, shoulder, or jaw; a person could also experience chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath" (p.35).

Noting that doctors still refer to some of these symptoms as "atypical", Goldberg (2002) expresses that the following are classic signs and symptoms of heart disease in women "unusual fatigue, shortness of breath during normal daily activities, nausea, dizziness, lower chest discomfort, back pain, upper abdominal pressure or discomfort" (p.35).

The signs and symptoms you may experience in your lifetime that are related to heart disease do not necessarily increase with your age. It increases rather with your daily activities and lifestyle. Obesity, stress, elevated LDL "bad" cholesterol, high triglycerides, and high blood pressure are all factors that increases a persons risk for heart disease whether you are male or female. Female are also prone to hormonal changes before, during, and after menopause stages which also increases certain risk factors in women (Goldberg, 2002). The most important thing is that you go to a medical care provider that you feel comfortable with in taking care or any symptoms you may be experiencing. As always if you feel it is something serious, seek medical attention right away.

References:

Goldberg, N., M.D., (2002) Women are not small men, life-saving strategies for preventing and healing heart disease in women. Ballantine Books: New York