Spirit of Women

Let's talk........"Heart to Heart"

From:
Deb Gartee, RNC, WHNP
Program Director
Referral Resources/Women's Health

Despite the fact that heart disease is the leading killer of women in America, most women do not understand their risk.

Heart disease kills ten times more women than breast cancer each year, and twice as many women as ALL cancer combined. This is a health concern we need to talk about!

The Facts

• Heart disease is the number one killer of women.
  
• One out of two women will die from heart disease.
  
• One in ten women aged 45 to 64 already suffers from some from of heart disease.
  
• Many of the symptoms of heart disease are often ignored, unrecognized or mis-diagnosed, because women's symptoms are completely different than men's.
  
• Women have heart attacks five to ten years later than men, because women's estrogen levels decrease over time and as women become menopausal, they lose some of their protection against heart disease.
  
• Women can be experiencing warning signs of heart disease up to two years before having an attack. A recent study of 650 post heart attack women found that fatigue, sleep disturbance, shortness of breath, indigestion and anxiety were the most common symptoms.

Warning Signs of Heart Disease for Women

• Nausea
  
• Indigestion
  
• Back pain
  
• Pain that spreads to shoulders, neck, arms, or jaw
  
• Dizziness
  
• Unexplained fatigue
  
• Chest discomfort

Risk Factors

• High blood pressure
  
• Smoking (triples your chances of having a heart attack before the age of 40)
  
• High cholesterol
  
• Family history of heart disease
  
• Diabetes
  
• Overweight
  
• Minimal exercise

Emotions Affect Your Heart
Loneliness, depression, and a high stress lifestyle increases your risk of heart disease. These are areas within your control. Take steps to improve the quality of your life.

"Pleasurable" Risk Reducers

• Pets
  
• Relationship satisfaction
  
• Siestas
  
• Happiness
  
• Education
  
• Live wholeheartedly
  
• Physical activity

What You Can Do

• Get screened
  
  • Cholesterol
    
  • Depression
    
  • Diabetes
    
  • Blood pressure
    
• Know your family history
  
• Assess your risk factors
  
• Take steps to improve what is in your control
  
• Talk to your doctor about your risks and a treatment plan

It is our mission at Spirit of Women to improve the quality of life for the women in our community. Call (574)647-7800 or come see us at 100 Navarre Place, Suite 6670, South Bend for screening and referral information.

We need a "Heart to Heart" conversation with you!