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Heart Disease
As a risk factor for heart disease, hypertension is a problem, particularly for women of color. This program reveals risk factors for the condition, as well as what steps women can take to lower their blood pressure.
Where does heart disease rank among the causes of death for women?
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women, with stroke being the number 1 cause of serious, long-term disability among women
What causes heart disease?
Coronary heart disease, the most common form of heart disease, develops over many years. It can begin in childhood as a result of a process known as atherosclerosis, where fatty substances build up inside the walls of blood vessels. Blood components also stick on the inside surface of these same vessel walls.
What happens when these fatty substances and blood components start to build-up inside the blood vessel?
This causes the vessels to narrow and "harden", becoming less flexible. The buildup and narrowing proceed gradually and results in decreasing blood flow and, eventually, the development of symptoms.
Why is this considered to be unhealthy or undesirable?
This buildup or "plague" may break open and suddenly produce a blood clot, limited blood flow, and symptoms.
What happens when the blood flow to the heart is reduced?
Reduced blood flow to the heart can cause chest pain, or angina. If blood flow is nearly or completely blocked, a heart attack can occur, causing muscle in the heart to die. Once damaged, these cells can not be replaced, the result is permanent heart damage.
Does heart disease affects women of all ages?
Coronary heart disease rarely affects young women Instead, it usually develops after menopause. Before menopause, the ovaries make estrogen, which helps to protect the heart. . One in ten American women ages 45 to 64 has some form of heart disease. That figure increases to one in five for women over age 65.
What are some of the other risk factors for heart disease?
There are several and include.
- Family history of early heart disease
- Cigarette smoking
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Being overweight
- Physical inactivity
- Diabetes
These risk factors do not add their effects in a simple way. Rather, they multiply each other's effects. For example, if you smoke and have high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, you're eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than a woman with no risk factors.
What is meant by unchangeable and changeable risk factors?
Risk factors that can not be controlled are known as unchangeable. Those that you have some control over are known as changeable.
Examples of unchangeable risk factors are:
- Being age 55 or older
- Having a family history of early heart disease. ( this means having a mother or sister who has been diagnosed with heart disease before age 65, or a father or brother diagnosed before age 55)
Examples changeable risk factors are:
- Cigarette smoking
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Overweight
- Physical inactivity
- Diabetes
Does coronary heart disease always create symptoms?
No. You can have coronary heart disease without being aware of it. The best way to protect your heart is to know whether you have coronary heart disease and treat it as early as possible.
What are some of the most some common warning signs of a heart attack?
- Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
- Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck or arms.
- Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, swearing, nausea, or shortness of breath.
Do men and women have the same symptoms?
As a woman, you may have other, less common warning signs than those commonly reported.
They are:
- Atypical chest pain, stomach or abdominal pain.
- Nausea or dizziness.
- Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
- Unexplained anxiety, weakness or fatigue.
- Palpitations, cold sweat or paleness.
What should you do if you suspect you are having a heart attack?
Always be prepared with the telephone number to call to get emergency transportation to the hospital. (In most areas this telephone number is 911). Getting to a hospital fast allows the use of a thrombolytic therapy or blood clot dissolving agent, to be injected into your artery to help restore blood flow. This type of therapy saves many lives and reduces damage to the heat muscle.
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