Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States. No matter your age -- even if you are in your 40s, 30s or 20s -- you can be at risk. The good news is, however, you have the power to protect your heart and lower your risk at any age.
Knowing the facts--as well as the signs, symptoms and risk factors--can help you take steps to protect your health and seek proper treatment if needed.
WHAT ARE THE COMMON TYPES OF HEART PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT WOMEN?
Atherosclerosis
This condition happens when plaque buildup in the arteries over time causes the arteries to narrow and harden. When the plaque wears down or breaks open, a blood clot may develop. If the clot blocks blood flow to the heart, it can cause a heart attack.
Heart failure
This happens when the heart is not able to pump blood through the body as well as it should. Heart failure is a serious medical problem because many organs, such as the lungs and kidneys, are no longer able to get the blood they need. Heart failure symptoms include:
Shortness of breath
Swelling in feet, ankles and legs
Extreme fatigue (tiredness)
Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat. Your heart may beat too fast, too slow or with an irregular rhythm. Changes in heartbeats are harmless for most people. As you get older, you are more likely to have arrhythmias, partly as a result of changing estrogen levels. It's normal to feel a few flutters or for your heart to race once in a while. If you have flutters along with other symptoms of heart attack, such as dizziness or shortness of breath, call 911 right away.
Atrial fibrillation (AF or Afib)
Afib is a type of arrhythmia and makes it easier for your blood to clot because your heart cannot pump as well as it should. This can lead to heart failure or stroke. Afib symptoms include heart flutters and, a fast heartbeat as well as dizziness and shortness of breath.
Heart valve disease
Heart valve disease affects the valves that control blood flow in and out of different parts of the heart. A birth defect, older age or an infection can cause your heart valves to not open fully or close completely. This causes the heart to work harder to pump blood. Heart valve disease can lead to stroke as well as heart failure, blood clots or sudden cardiac arrest. Heart valve disease can cause problems during pregnancy, when your heart already has to work harder than usual to supply blood to your unborn baby. Your doctor can help you prevent problems during pregnancy if you know you have heart valve disease. But, some women do not find out that they have a heart valve problem until they get pregnant.
HOW DO HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS DIFFER FOR WOMEN?
Many people think the warning signs of a heart attack are sudden -- like a movie heart attack, where someone clutches their chest and falls over. A real heart attack may look and feel very different for women. Women are more likely to have nontraditional symptoms than men. And women are also more likely to have silent heart attacks.
Different activities bring on chest pain. In men, angina tends to worsen with physical activity and go away with rest. Women are more likely than men to have angina while they are resting. In women who have coronary microvascular disease, angina often happens during routine daily activities, such as shopping or cooking, rather than during exercise. Microvascular angina events may last longer and be more painful than other types of angina.
The location and type of pain may differ. Pain symptoms are different for each person. Women having angina or a heart attack often describe their chest pain as crushing, or they say it feels like pressure, squeezing or tightness. Women may also have pain in the chest, upper back or the neck and throat.
Mental stress is more likely to trigger angina pain in women than in men.
Other symptoms common for women include nausea, vomiting, indigestion, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal pain, sleep problems, tiredness and lack of energy.
Make the call
A woman suffers a heart attack every 100 seconds in the United States, yet according to an American Heart Association survey, 1 in 3 women said they would not call 911 if they thought they were having a heart attack. Few were aware of the most common heart attack symptoms besides chest pain.
If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack, call 911 right way. Do not drive yourself to the hospital, and do not let a friend drive you. You may need medical help on the way to the hospital. Getting to the hospital quickly is important as treatments for opening clogged arteries work best within the first hour after a heart attack starts.
Don't let anyone tell you that you are overreacting or to wait and see.
WHAT IS A SILENT HEART ATTACK?
A silent heart attack is a heart attack that does not cause obvious symptoms. Your doctor may discover a silent heart attack days, weeks or months later on an electrocardiogram test used to diagnose a heart problem.
Silent heart attacks:
Are more common in women than men.
Can happen to women younger than 65.
Are more likely to happen in women with diabetes. Diabetes can change how you sense pain, making you less likely to notice heart attack symptoms.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MY RISK FOR HEART DISEASE?
Certain habits and health problems raise your risk for heart disease. You can control many of these risk factors.
Habits you can control include eating healthy, not smoking, getting at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week, limiting alcohol and reducing stress. Talk to your health care provider about steps you can take to quit smoking, eat healthier and lower your stress. (See the list below this one)
Health problems you can improve include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight or obese. If you have one or more of these health problems, work with your health care provider to make changes to lower your risk. More than 56 million women in the United States have high blood pressure (defined as 130/80 mm Hg or higher) or are taking blood pressure medicine. This includes almost 1 in 5 women of reproductive age. Black women are nearly 60% more likely to have high blood pressure than white women. Your provider may prescribe medicine to help you control your blood pressure or cholesterol.
Risk factors you can't control include your age, family history and menopause. Knowing about risk factors you can't control can help you and your provider decide on a plan to reduce other risk factors for heart disease.
HOW DOES PREGNANCY AFFECT MY RISK FOR HEART DISEASE?
Tell your primary care provider if you had gestational high blood pressure, gestational diabetes or preeclampsia during a past pregnancy. These pregnancy problems are also signs that you are at higher risk for heart disease later in life after pregnancy. Talk to your provider about ways to lower your risk for heart disease.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT HEART DISEASE?
You don't need to become a super athlete or go on a very strict diet to protect your heart and lower your risk for heart disease. Every woman can take steps every day toward a more heart-healthy lifestyle. And the best part is that being more heart-healthy also lowers your risk for other diseases like cancer and diabetes.
Get moving
For the most health benefits, you need to get enough aerobic activity to get your heart pumping and do muscle-strengthening activities every week. (Always check with your doctor before starting any regular exercise you are not used to doing.)
You should get at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, like brisk walking, on most days of the week. The 30 minutes of heart-pumping activity don't have to be all at one time. You can break it up into 10-minute activities throughout the day.
Do the following each week:
Aerobic activity:
2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, such as a brisk walk, or
1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, such as running, or
A combination of moderate and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity
Muscle-strengthening activity:
Muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days
Eat healthy foods
Making unhealthy food choices can lead to weight gain. But that is not the only risk. Unhealthy eating affects your arteries, blood pressure, glucose level and many other parts of your heart health. Talk to your health care provider about a heart-healthy eating plan that lowers your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Aim for a healthy weight
Reaching and staying at a healthy weight will lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. If you already have heart disease, a healthy weight will help you control your disease and prevent heart attack. A slow and steady weight loss is the best way to lose weight and keep it off. Talk to your doctor about how much weight you need to lose and the best ways to do it.
Know your heart disease numbers
Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) and blood sugar levels. Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans must cover these tests at no cost to you. These tests will give you important information about your heart health. Your provider can tell you what your numbers mean and what you need to do to protect your heart.
Take care of yourself
Stress, anxiety, depression and lack of sleep can raise your risk for heart disease. Take care of yourself with these steps:
Get enough sleep. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
Don't stress. Keep stress in check by taking time each day to relax and unwind.
Treat mental health problems. Get help if you have trouble coping because of depression, anxiety or another health problem.
Make a well-woman visit. Make an appointment with your doctor for an annual well-woman visit.
SOURCE: Information gathered from the Centers for Disease Control; Office on Women's Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; National Institues of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services