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Heart Disease in Women Explained

Guest post by: Bryan Wong YH

Article Overview: Heart disease in women is sadly a lesser known condition compared to the same condition in the opposite gender. Decades of research focus mostly on the risk factors and causes of heart disease in men. It is only in recent times that more research is being carried out to understand cardiovascular disease in woman.

Heart Disease in Women Explained

Heart disease in women is sadly a lesser known condition compared to the same condition in the opposite gender. Decades of research focus mostly on the risk factors and causes of heart disease in men. It is only in recent times that more research is being carried out to understand cardiovascular disease in woman.



Signs and Symptoms

You might think that women share the same signs and symptoms as men. This is a common misconception even among doctors. Typical symptoms of angina or chest pain includes crushing stabbing pain at the chest lasting more than a few minutes, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, light headedness, sweating and fainting. Most of these symptoms appear in males but in the female gender symptoms are more vague. They typically present in females as an overwhelming sense of fatigue, sudden urge to lie down, indigestion, shortness of breath, anxiety or nervousness.

Women with heart disease also have higher morbidity and mortality rates. For example women are more likely to suffer repeat attacks and also more likely to experience complications during bypass surgery. Younger woman with a family history of heart attacks are more likely to succumb to the disease. Younger woman are also unlikely to recognize the symptoms of angina than older women. The number of women dying from heart attacks also far surpasses women who die from breast cancer. These statistics might paint a grim picture on heart disease in women but the reality is that more men have a higher rate of cardiovascular problems.



Risk Factors

The risk factors for getting heart attacks is pretty much the same as in males. Modifiable risk factors include diet, exercise, smoking and lifestyle. Non-modifiable risk factors are race, family history and a background history of cardiovascular disease. You can do a lot by paying close attention to your modifiable risk factors.

So what can you do if you are part of the statistic?

If you are on a high fatty diet, need I say more? Cut down on these fatty foods. Regulate your intake of salt and red meat. Fish is good because it is rich in omega-3 fatty acid which reduces clogging of the arteries. Smoking speeds up atherosclerosis which is basically clogging of the arteries and if you are smoking, cut down and if possible cease completely. Lifestyle may be a difficult thing to change. There are certain things you can do to help change your lifestyle. Take a break or a short holiday from work. Pay close attention to your health and do not force yourself to do more than you can. Most doctors recommend 30 minute walks five times a week. This might not be feasible for some. My advice would be to start slow and build up.

I hope you will find this article useful especially for my female readers. Heart disease in women is a disease that needs to be recognized and identified as early as possible to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Bryan Wong YH

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Article Tags: heart disease in women, heart disease women, women and heart disease



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