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Christina Crimmins  |  Health.mil

October 29, 2010

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in America, and while the condition is most often associated with males, more women die each year from the disease than men.

Older women are not the only ones affected. While age can be a risk factor, heart disease can start at any age, something Jenna Bell knows all too well. At 23, Bell was a healthy weight and ate a healthy diet; however, working full time, attending graduate school and with her fiancé serving in the Army and deployed to Iraq, she was under a considerable amount of stress. After noticing her heart rate was elevated while she was at rest, Bell went to see her doctor who referred her to a cardiologist.

“I’ve gone back to thank him,” Bell says of her family doctor, “he literally saved my life.” After an EKG, she was told she had an idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Further tests showed that her heart was functioning just barely above those in need of transplants.

Bell decided then that she needed to make some changes in her life. She cut sodium out of her diet, worked to reduce stress and began working out regularly.

Bell’s story illustrates that one of the primary challenges facing women when it comes to heart disease is recognizing the signs. Chest pain or discomfort is a symptom in both men and women; however, in women it is not always the primary symptom. Only about half of women who have heart attacks have reported having chest pains. Women are more likely to experience more subtle symptoms such as neck, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort, as well as shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, sweating, dizziness or unusual fatigue.

Because the signs in women can be more subtle, they tend to seek medical assistance after damage has already occurred to the heart, therefore, it’s important to pay attention to these symptoms and seek medical assistance as soon as they start.

Dr. Mary Ann Bauman of Integris Health is a spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women program. She says that women’s tendency to put their health second is a contributing factor to heart disease in women.

“Most women are taking care of their families and not taking care of themselves,”
Bauman says. She adds, “You need to find time in your day [to exercise], put it on your calendar and do it.”

Bauman also recommends cutting down on fast food, which is high in sodium and can contribute to high blood pressure, eating more fruits and vegetables, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight. She also emphasizes the need for those who smoke to quit.

Most importantly, she says women of all ages need to “know their numbers,” specifically their blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol levels, “Don’t just assume because you’re young you don’t have high blood pressure.”

A family history of heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and poor diet are also factors that contribute to heart disease in both men and women. Smoking also increases the risk of heart disease by speeding up the development of atherosclerosis – the process by which cholesterol and other substances build up along the artery walls, encouraging blood clots and disrupting the heart’s rhythm.

When asked what advice she would give to women when it comes to heart disease, Bell says the main thing to know is that 80 percent of heart disease is preventable, and that, “it’s never too late to change your diet and exercise.” She also urges women to follow up on health concerns and push their doctors to check for signs of heart disease, even if the patient is young.

Dr. Bauman adds that women need to take heart disease seriously. “The time to take action is now to avoid problems now and later.”

For more information on the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women program visit http://www.goredforwomen.org.

Health Care [News]  |  prevention   women's health   heart health