Women and Heart Disease: What You Need to Know

Heart disease affects both men and women, but it strikes women differently. In the United States, it kills more women than any other cause. However, women can completely prevent it by making lifestyle changes and receiving medical treatments.

As a woman, it’s essential to learn about heart disease and your risk. At the Heart Clinic of Hammond, Dr. Ghiath Mikdadi and Dr. Farid Zayed offer coronary interventions, electrocardiograms, and stress testing to assess your risk of heart trouble.

Signs of heart disease in women

Heart disease can strike women of any age and sometimes develops without apparent symptoms. Chest pain commonly signals heart issues like a heart attack, but not every woman experiences pain.

Heart disease symptoms often affect women differently from men. Watch for these signs:

• Shortness of breath with or without chest pain
• Extreme tiredness or weakness
• Indigestion, nausea, or vomiting
• Pain in the jaw, neck, abdomen, upper back, or shoulders
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

Swelling in the feet, ankles, and abdomen signals that the heart isn’t working correctly. Unfortunately, the American Heart Association states that heart disease affects 45% of women 20 and older, but only 44% recognize the risk.

Women’s unique risk factors

Women face various unique risk factors for heart disease. They share some risks with men, such as high blood pressure, being overweight, or smoking. Family history and genetics also increase your risk of developing cardiovascular problems.

However, women also face unique risks that do not affect men. The following risk factors specifically impact women:

• Hitting menopause before age 40
• Having gestational diabetes or preeclampsia
• Receiving radiation treatment for breast cancer
• Living with endometriosis or PCOS
• An early first period, usually before age 11
• Autoimmune issues like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

Pregnancy issues, like preterm delivery and complications, raise a woman’s chances of heart disease. In addition to the regular risk factors, women face several gender-specific risks they should be aware of.

Tips to prevent heart disease as a woman

Preventing heart disease starts with consistent, proactive habits. We provide treatments and lifestyle tips to help you identify and reduce your risk of heart disease. For a healthy heart, follow these recommendations:

• Exercise at least 150 minutes per week, preferably aerobics
• Quit smoking
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eat a low-sodium diet
• Limit stress
• Control blood sugar and diabetes
• Manage high blood pressure
• Check your cholesterol and triglycerides

As a woman, a healthy lifestyle is the best way to maintain a healthy heart. Get regular check-ups and take any medications as prescribed to maintain your health.

If you already have heart disease, we offer various treatments, including coronary interventions and cardiac catheterization, to help your heart function better.

Contact the Heart Clinic of Hammond team in Hammond or Amite, Louisiana, today to discuss cardiac treatments or you can request an appointment online.