Heart Disease, Major Causes of Death in Women - Health Tip

By on 6:40 AM
Heart Disease, Major Causes of Death in Women - Health Tip
Heart disease being one of the leading causes of death in women.

Tracy Stevens, MD., Medical director of Saint Luke's Muriel Kauffman, said that there are many reasons why women are more prone to heart attacks than men, but most often because they do not realize it.

Because the symptoms are more vague, women often delay seeking treatment because they do not think the symptoms associated with heart disease experienced.

In addition to common risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, and diabetes, women have risk factors that are not owned by a man that is menopause.

"We continue to study menopause and its role in heart disease," says Dr. Stevens.

"There is an estrogen receptor in the coronary arteries of women and the loss of estrogen after menopause can increase a woman's risk of heart disease."

Women who have high blood pressure and / or diabetes during pregnancy, chemotherapy and / or radiation therapy for breast cancer and those with polycystic ovary syndrome are also considered at risk.

"The good news is early detection can prevent heart attack and stroke by 85%," says Dr. Stevens.

The women should recognize heart attack symptoms such as:

- Chest discomfort, tightness, chest feels full, squeezing chest

- Discomfort in the upper back between the shoulder blades

- Pain in the jaw, neck or teeth

- Dizziness or nausea and

- Often restless and body feels weak

- Shortness of breath.