File this one away in conversations you don’t want to have, but need to. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S.. You read that right-- number one. More women than men die each year from heart disease, according to the National Institute of Health. Since February is American Heart Month, we consulted the experts at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center to give us their recommendations on how we can get heart healthy.
What are the symptoms?
Because heart disease is often called the “silent killer,” pay attention to—and seek medical attention for—any chest pain symptoms, including heaviness, discomfort, and pressure. “Women are also more likely to experience other symptoms, such as back or jaw pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and dizziness, which can be mistaken for other less serious illnesses,” says Dr. Alexandra Gottdiener, Chief of Medicine at EHMC and Co-Medical Director of the Braverman Family Executive Wellness Program.
Women have the same risk factors as men – older age, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and family history, but there’s also a growing body of evidence that suggests heart disease not only produces separate and distinct symptoms in women, but may be affected by gender-specific differences, such as preeclampsia during pregnancy and early menopause.
Is it preventable?
A healthy diet, exercise, and regular checkups are always important; annual screenings may also identify present or underlying health conditions. To reduce cardiovascular disease risk, EHMC Cardiologist Dr. Andrew Weissman recommends women learn their family history, maintain a healthy weight, live a smoke-free lifestyle, and manage conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Women should also know their numbers, including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and body mass index. Knowing these numbers may help determine individual risk factors for heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease, among others. New guidelines recommend that some women consider taking cholesterol-lowering medications based on their individual risk of developing heart disease.
Now what?
While there are risk factors that cannot be controlled, such as age, family history, gender, and prior heart attack or stroke, there are many lifestyle choices that can affect the risk of heart disease.
Mindfulness activities such as meditation, yoga, massage, and other stress-management techniques can and do help! Another thing you can do is visit the Braverman Family Executive Wellness Program at EMHC and get a comprehensive, single-day health and wellness assessment. Designed to encourage prevention, early intervention, and peace of mind, evaluations include blood work, cardiovascular tests, a fitness assessment, a bone density test, as well as a consultation with a dietitian and an exercise physiologist to assess lifestyle factors and other individualized health risks so a management plan can be developed.
There. Feel better now? Managing your heart disease risk factors is totally within your control.
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center 350 Engle Street Englewood, NJ 07631 201-894-3000
