By
Karen Asp, Woman's Day
Women's hearts differ from men's in surprising ways. Here, what you need to know to take care of your ticker.
[post_ads_2]1. Men and women can have different risk factors.
While the big ones are the same—smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and physical inactivity— some factors are more dangerous for women (for instance, those who smoke have a 25% higher risk of developing heart disease
compared to male smokers). Also, some issues related to heart problems,
such as preeclampsia and endometriosis, only affect women, and risk
factors like depression and anxiety touch a greater number of women than
men.
Act now: At your next checkup, discuss all risk factors with your doctor, particularly those specific to women.
2. Women don't always suffer crushing chest pain when they're having a heart attack.
Even
though chest pain is the number-one symptom for both sexes, women are
more likely to have certain signs such as extreme fatigue, indigestion,
dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, and pain in the back, neck, or
jaw. Because these symptoms are unusual, women often take longer than
men to call for emergency help, setting themselves up for worse
outcomes. According to a recent European study, on average men waited 45
minutes to call, while women waited an hour, which put them at twice
the risk of dying in the hospital.
Act now: If
you think something is wrong, get checked immediately and don't let
doctors dismiss you. Ask for an EKG to make sure your heart is okay.
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3. Women can have "widow-maker" heart attacks, too.
The
name implies that these are a man's issue, but women experience them as
well. A widow-maker happens when there's a blockage in the left
descending artery, which feeds one side of the heart's main pumping
chamber. (Its grim name comes from the fact that survival rates are
extremely low.)
Act now: Although
a widow-maker is a sudden event, you can still have symptoms leading up
to it, so never ignore unfamiliar feelings. It's also wise to learn CPR
in case a friend or family member starts to show signs (go to heart.org/handsonlycpr).
4. Women don't always receive the same heart-health care as men.
Treatment
for heart disease in women still lags far behind. Because the medical
community once thought women didn't get heart disease, much of the data
doctors use today is from men.
Act now: Get involved to help experts gather more data—go to Research Match and fill out a quick profile. The site then sends you information about trials and studies.
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5. Yes, you can have a broken heart.
Stressful
situations like the death of a loved one can trigger intense chest
pain, called broken heart syndrome, and women are more vulnerable. Even
though it's not a heart attack, if you feel pain, seek emergency care.
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