Heart disease – what comes to mind when you hear those words? If you think of chest pain, hospital visits to the emergency room, and shortness of breath, you are not alone. But did you think of women? Probably not – however, heart disease is the number one killer of women throughout the world today. About 8.6 million women die from heart disease each year, accounting for a third of all female deaths, and one in three adult women has some form of heart disease. Of those women over the age of 40 diagnosed with heart attacks, 23 percent die within one year, compared to 18 percent of men. Heart attacks alone kill six times as many women as breast cancer each year.

You may be asking yourself why women experience different outcomes than men with heart disease. During a heart attack, many men report the specific symptoms of chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, lower jaw pain, dizziness, and pain that radiates to the left arm or shoulder. In women, however, the symptoms are often vague, and can sometimes be felt a month before the onset of the heart attack. Symptoms most commonly reported are loss of sleep, shortness of breath, fatigue, anxiety, indigestion, dizziness, and of course, chest pain. However, about 30 percent of women report no feelings of chest pain or pressure. Because of this, women tend to wait longer to go to the emergency room or hospital, and physicians are slower to recognize the presence of heart attacks in women.

Hope is only a heartbeat away. Women on average respond better to healthy lifestyle changes than men do! If you don’t normally exercise, start slowly by walking, biking, or swimming for 30 minutes three to five times per week. As your endurance and fitness level increases, you will be able to exercise longer. Since saturated fats contribute to plaque build-up on your coronary arteries, try to stay away from foods like butter, fried chicken, cream, and cheese. Also, if you smoke, now is a good time to quit. Smoking increases your blood pressure, reduces your activity tolerance, and increases the tendency for your blood to clot. Although it is a difficult addiction to give up, your body will thank you.
So what do you say? Let’s work to prevent heart disease and live healthier, happier, longer lives.

Rebekah Dotson, a legal nurse consultant and Coastside resident, works with attorneys to increase the chances of winning their cases by organizing medical information and clarifying medical issues for them. Call her at 415-351-8382 or send e-mail to rebekah.dotson@yahoo.com.