Heartache is Not Only for the Broken Hearted
Considering that 60% of heart attacks occur in females, this could not be farther from the truth. In 2007 alone 2,874,000 females within the United States were diagnosed with Cardiovascular Disease (CVD); that same year some form of CVD claimed the lives of 421,918 females. Assuming it is a ``man`s disease`` is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to misconceptions of female heart disease risks. To make matters worse, many women are unaware of the fact that heart attack and disease symptoms can sometimes manifest themselves differently in women than they do in men. According to the American Heart Association the most common symptoms of a heart attack are:
- Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that subsides then returns. This can exhibit an uncomfortable feeling like pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- An uncomfortable/tingly feeling in one or both arms.
- Shortness of breath; with or without chest discomfort.
- Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
While these symptoms can occur in both sexes, women can also suffer from different warning signs that include (but are NOT limited to):
- Pain in the left breast that subsequently moves to the shoulder and back.
- Back pain is very typical and some women feel as though they have a `pit`sitting in their stomachs.
Because these signs are often attributed to other things going on in a woman`s body, physicians frequently discharge patients without a proper diagnosis. Ladies, it is up to you to remain persistent. Immediately go to the ER if you`re experiencing one or more of these symptoms and make sure they check you for cardiovascular issues before releasing you. CVD kills more women than the other top four causes of death COMBINED, INCLUDING all forms of cancer. The annual average female mortality rate is broken down as follows: heart disease is responsible for 25.8% of lives; cancer claims 22.0%, stroke accounts for 6.7%, chronic respiratory disease ranks in at 5.3% and Alzheimer`s disease at 4.2%. Don`t become a statistic. There are so many tools at your disposal to keep you informed about the risks of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease in women. Talk to your doctor or health care professional and visit: www.goredforwomen.org/
