Women's Health Includes Heart Health
Women are at high risk for developing
cardiovascular disease. Health care providers and
organizations such as the American Heart Association
are encouraging women to be proactive and take steps
to reduce their risk for heart disease, even before
symptoms occur.
An appointment with your primary care physician
is the perfect time to start inquiring about your risk for
heart disease, and to discover lifestyle changes you can
make to reduce your cardiovascular risk.
Know the facts:
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women.
- Over 8 million women currently live with
heart disease.
- Heart attacks kill six times as many women
as breast cancer.
- Two-thirds of women who die from heart
attacks have no prior symptoms.
- Early detection, accurate diagnosis and
proper treatment can prevent heart attacks.
Many risk factors for heart disease and stroke can
be controlled, such as high blood pressure, smoking,
high cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity or being
overweight, and diabetes.
Become aware of the signs and symptoms of heart
disease in women and how these symptoms differ from
those in men.
Symptoms in women may include one
or more of the following:
- Discomfort, fullness, tightness, squeezing
or pressure in center of chest that lasts more
than a few minutes or comes and goes.
- Pressure or pain spreading to upper back, shoulders, neck, jaw or arms.
- Dizziness or nausea.
- Sweating, heart flutters or paleness.
- Unexplained feelings of anxiety, fatigue or
weakness – especially with exertion.
- Stomach or abdominal pain.
- Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
Take immediate action if you experience heart
attack symptoms:
- Call 911.
- Chew and swallow with water one regular
full-strength aspirin.
- Request a cardiac evaluation including an
electrocardiogram (EKG) and a blood test
checking cardiac enzymes.
At Penn Cardiac Care, our advanced technology,
innovative procedures and internationally renowned
heart specialists are focused on one thing – getting
you back to the life you love.
Three of Penn's female cardiologists weigh in on how women can decrease their risk for heart disease now and establish good cardiovascular health throughout the year.
“Family history is very important as a
risk factor for women, but it's not always
needed to have risk. Smoking is a major
risk factor and has been the great equalizer
between men and women. A lot of women
that I see who have had heart attacks,
especially young women, are smokers.” |
Ruchira Glaser, MD
Interventional Cardiologist
Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania |
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“Despite the statistics, most women
don't view heart disease as their greatest
threat, but rather breast cancer. To
raise awareness that heart disease is the
number one killer among men and
women is to raise awareness of risk
factors, as well as signs and symptoms
of heart disease.” |
Helene Glassberg, MD
Preventive Cardiologist
Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania |
| |
“More women should take proactive
steps in their health care and seek
options to improve their quality of life
in battling cardiac diseases. I'd like to see
more women seek health care options
and be considered for procedures that
are more commonly offered to men as
therapeutic options.” |
Rupa Bala, MD
Electrophysiologist
Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania |
For more information or
to schedule an appointment with a Penn cardiologist,
call 1-800-789-PENN (7366) or request an appointment online.
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