Women's Heart Health
Most women are aware of the risk of breast cancer
and what can be done for prevention and early
detection, but cardiovascular disease poses a
far greater threat. Although one in nine women
develops breast cancer in her lifetime, two out
of three women develop heart disease and stroke.
Coronary artery disease is the major cause of
death in women in the United States, accounting
for more than 500,000 deaths each year.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing heart disease and risk for heart attack
in women is complicated by several factors. First,
stress testing, one of the most common diagnostic
tools for heart disease, results in a significant
number of false positives in women. Therefore,
Penn Cardiac Care physicians use several specialized
stress tests that are more accurate for women.
These tests include heart imaging with nuclear
scans or echocardiography.
Second, the symptoms of heart disease that women
experience, such as fatigue, shortness of breath
and jaw pain, are often mistaken for other conditions
and problems. 75 percent of women with heart disease
are over the age of 65, therefore diagnosis also
may be complicated by other medical problems with
similar symptoms. Penn Cardiac Care physicians
recognize these symptoms and understand how they
differ from those experienced by men.
Gender Differences
While heart disease threatens the lives of both
men and women, there are certain gender differences
that are critical in accurately diagnosing and
treating heart disease. For instance:
- Women develop heart disease about ten years
later than men, usually after menopause.
- Women who have had a heart attack are much
more likely than men to have a second heart
attack within the first year of recovery.
- Women are twice as likely as men to die within
the first few weeks after suffering a heart
attack.
- Women are more likely than men to die within
the first year after an attack.
- Women often experience different symptoms
than men.
Getting to the Hospital
on Time
The amount of time it takes for women to get
to the emergency room after the onset of chest
pain compared to men is shocking. It takes women
nearly three to four hours to get to the hospital
compared to an only an hour on average for men.
This delay may be related to the fact that women
tend to live alone and/or don't want to bother
anyone with "funny pains".
Earlier treatment can significantly improve survival,
therefore any chest discomfort that lasts longer
than 15 minutes must be taken seriously. If you
are suffering from chest pain, notify your doctor
accordingly.
Ways to Manage Heart
Disease and Reduce Risk
Smoking
The single greatest risk factor for coronary disease
in women is smoking. It causes the arteries and
capillaries to constrict and is even more harmful
to women than to men, possibly due to women's
smaller arteries.
Fortunately, there are more resources available
than ever before to help people quit smoking.
If you or someone you love need help quitting,
speak to your doctor.
Exercise and Weight Reduction
Exercise can also help prevent heart disease,
but only 25 percent of women exercise regularly.
For women, exercise can help reduce weight, cholesterol
levels, blood pressure, and the risk of diabetes
and sudden death.
Increasingly, many American women and men are
becoming overweight, often by eating "low
fat" foods in an effort to lose weight. Ironically,
more calories than ever are being consumed. Coupled
with sedentary jobs, obesity is becoming a hurdle
to staying heart healthy.
Even low levels of regular exercise and small
amounts of weight loss can have important benefits
in reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Small lifestyle changes add up so start today.
Be sure to check with your doctor before starting
any exercise program.
Menopause and Heart
Disease
For women, the risk of heart disease increases
greatly after menopause, even if the onset is
premature due to hysterectomy. Studies have shown
that before menopause, the body's estrogen protects
women from heart disease by keeping LDL or "bad"
cholesterol low, HDL or "good" cholesterol
high.
Studies now show that post-menopausal hormone
replacement does not protect against cardiovascular
events. Thus other ways of modifying lipids after
menopause are even more important.
For more information about women's heart health,
speak to your doctor or call 1-800-789-PENN.
|
