Women and Heart Disease

WOMEN AND HEART DISEASE

Heart attacks and heart disease is no longer considered a disease that affects just men. Women are at risk for these diseases too. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women. American women are more likely to die from heart disease than from breast cancer. It w3as said by the Texas Heart Institute that this disease kills more women over 65 than all cancers combined.

Many times women are less likely to survive a heart attack than men are. The reason behind this could be that heart attack symptoms in women are sometimes different from those experienced by men. A woman having a heart attack may only feel pain in the arm or back, they may have some nausea or light-headedness. Shortness of breathe can also be a factor. Many risk factors that contribute to heart disease can be controlled. Quitting smoking, lowering cholesterol and regulating our blood pressure are some things we all should consider.

Smoking is a major factor for heart disease. It lowers the good cholesterol, which in turn heightens the risk of heart disease. Although smoking in this country has been on the decline in the past years, the number of women who smoke has increased. The good news is that no matter how long someone smokes the risk can be quickly reduced by quitting.

Cholesterol levels are also related to a person's risk of heart disease. Many times cholesterol can be maintained by diet, while others may need to take medication to treat it. A study reported by the American Journal of Cardiology found that HDL (high-density lipoprotein) levels were the most important predictor of your heart health. The higher a woman's HDL is the less likely she is to have heart problems.

Hypertension also known simply as high blood pressure is a common problem related to heart disease. When a person has high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder. It also speeds up the hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Although high blood pressure cannot be cured, it can be controlled with a healthy diet, exercise and if necessary medication

With current statistics revealing significant differences between men and women with heart disease women as a whole, need to become more aware. Although such factors as increasing age, and family history can not be changed other things in our lives can. It is important to make the lifestyle changes that do reduce those