Women and Cardiovascular Disease

February is American Heart Month, and this week I would
like to focus on heart health for women.

What do you think is the #1 killer of American women? If
you thought it is cancer, you are wrong. Cardiovascular
diseases (including heart attack, stroke, and related diseases)
kill TWICE as many women as ALL cancers combined.
Twice as many! Yet how many of us are very regular getting
our mammograms and Pap smears, while neglecting to
have our blood pressure or cholesterol levels checked?
Having an annual check-up with our physicians, where we
can review our risk factors for heart disease and plan lifestyle
changes to improve our health is essential. So, see your
doctor! But in the meantime, here are some quick tips to
decrease our risk of heart attacks or stroke.

1. Maintain a healthy weight.
2. Eat a heart healthy diet, which is rich in vegetables, fruits,
whole grains, and high-fiber foods. Eat lean meats; eat
poultry and fish twice a week. Be sure your choices are
low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. Eat
fat-free or 1 percent dairy products, and try to keep your
sodium intake to below 2300 mg per day.
3. Do not use tobacco.
4. Get moving. Enjoy at least 30 minutes of physical activity
more days than not. Walk, bike, swim, dance - whatever
you like to do.
5. Know your blood pressure and cholesterol values, and
work with your doctor to get and keep them within the
optimal ranges.

The American Heart Association website is full of information
(www.americanheart.org), and I encourage you to look
at it.

It is also important to know the signs of a heart attack (we
will deal with strokes at another time). Some heart attacks
are very sudden, but most start slowly, with mild pain or
discomfort.

• Chest pain - most heart attacks involve discomfort in
  the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes
  away and comes back. It can feel like pressure, squeezing,
  fullness, or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body - this can
  include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back,
  neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat,
  nausea, or lightheadedness.

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom
is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat
more likely than men to experience some of the other common
symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/
vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Even if you are not sure it is a heart attack - have it checked
out right away! Minutes matter. Don't wait more than
five minutes to call 9-1-1. Do not drive yourself to the
hospital!

I will begin shortly to do blood pressure checks on a regular,
monthly basis. But I am always available on Tuesdays
in my office to check your blood pressure, and I am glad to
make other arrangements if necessary. If you have any
questions or particular concerns, please let me know. We
can work together, along with your physician, to help you
make good choices and lead a healthier life. God gave us
marvelous bodies - it is up to us to take care of them!