However, researchers have found that many women underestimate their risks of heart attack and stroke.
Only about half of women recognize cardiovascular illness as the leading cause of death despite efforts to increase awareness.
Silent Killer
This low health literacy regarding heart health among women translates to suboptimal risk reduction and treatment. Studies have found that women are less likely to be counseled on steps to reduce risk and often receive less medical intervention than their male counterparts. Although nearly 7% of American women have coronary heart disease, most are unaware of the health risks entailed.
An additional challenge facing women with regards to cardiovascular illness is the discrepancy in presentation of symptoms between women and men. While men often exhibit early signs of heart disease, women frequently remain asymptomatic until the disease is very advanced and a cardiovascular incident is either imminent or has already occurred. Almost two-thirds of women who die suddenly from stroke or heart attack have experienced no previous symptoms, making cardiovascular illness a stealthy and silent killer. Furthermore, when women do experience symptoms of heart disease these may be very different from the symptoms generally described by men.
Men and Women: Different Symptoms
While many men describe chest pain – or angina – as a crushing or squeezing feeling in the chest that radiates down the arm, women may be more likely to describe sharp or burning chest pain that radiates to the neck, jaw, and back.
Women may also experience varied physical symptoms apart from chest pain, such as abdominal discomfort, nausea and vomiting, profuse sweating, dizziness, and fatigue.
Because of the wide variation in symptoms and the discrepancy from typical crushing chest pain, women are less likely to seek medical attention and be diagnosed with a cardiovascular illness.
Another difference in the presentation of symptoms between men and women is when episodes occur.
Frequently men who experience angina find that pain intensifies with physical activity and subsides while resting.
Women, on the other hand, are more likely to have pain while resting or even sleeping.
Angina in women will also be triggered during routine daily activities as well as during times of mental or emotional stress rather than during intense physical exercise.
These two major differences between how women and men present exacerbates the under-diagnosis and treatment of women with cardiovascular illness, which may, in turn, increase the risks of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.
If heart disease is not diagnosed until the patient suffers a serious medical crisis, rehabilitation may be more difficult.
For this reason, at our cardiology practice, we strive to prevent such events through early diagnosis and prevention.
Silence of Heart Disease in Women
Because of the relative silence of heart disease in the case of female patients, this intervention is only possible if we can monitor risk factors and implement risk reduction even without the presentation of symptoms.
These risks also increase dramatically after menopause, making it especially critical for older women to closely monitor heart health.
Lifestyle Choices that Can Make a Difference
To reduce the risks of heart disease, there are a number of lifestyle choices that can make a significant difference. These include:
· Quit smoking: women who smoke are 25% more likely to develop heart disease and suffer smoking-related complications than men who smoke. Smoking also doubles women’s risk of sudden cardiac death, making smoking cessation a top priority.
· Healthy eating: reduce intake of fatty meat, especially after menopause, and increase intake of fruits, vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, and low-fat protein. High protein diets and yo-yo dieting in older women has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular illness. It is important to consult with your physician prior to beginning any diet.
· Exercise regularly: just 150 minutes of activity per week can reduce risks of heart disease.
· Limit alcohol to one drink per day.
· Lower stress: stress at work has been linked to a 40% increase in heart health risk and has also been linked to obesity. Finding healthy ways to reduce stress can positively impact a woman’s overall health.
What Can Your Doctor Do?
While lifestyle changes are important, it is also necessary for women to undergo regular checkups to monitor heart health. Some things that your doctor will do to ensure that you are maintaining optimal cardiovascular health include: Heart Disease is the Silent Killer of Women
· Monitoring blood pressure: high blood pressure contributes to heart disease and increases the risk of adverse events, yet is often asymptomatic.
· Testing for diabetes: uncontrolled diabetes significantly raises the risks of cardiovascular illness. While diabetes can be controlled, it is important to diagnose it and implement an appropriate management plan.
· Monitoring triglycerides and cholesterol: high triglycerides combined with high levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and low levels of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol speed up the buildup of plaque along arterial walls, which in turn increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. These levels can only be determined through regular blood tests.
At our Aventura, Florida cardiology practice, we strive to implement early intervention to reduce the risks of cardiovascular illness. Heart Disease: Silent Killer of Women
We are here to guide and support all of our patients, and our staff is uniquely equipped to treat each patient according to their individual health needs and goals. Heart Disease: Silent Killer of Women
Heart Disease: Silent Killer of Women
Dr. Leonard Pianko, the founder of the Aventura Cardiovascular Center, is board certified in cardiology and internal medicine with special expertise in cardiovascular disease, preventive cardiology, and non-invasive treatment options, including echocardiogram and nuclear stress testing. A native of New York, Dr. Leonard Pianko, M.D., F.A.C.C., was born in the Bronx, and earned an undergraduate degree from Yeshiva University in New York before receiving his medical education at top-ranked Mount Sinai School of Medicine and completing his training at the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine in New Brunswick, New Jersey. For more information about this blog contact Dr. Pianko at http://www.leonardpiankomd.com/contact.php.
