February is National Heart Month, and St. John’s Mercy is taking this opportunity to provide important information about women’s heart health. The following article appeared in St. Louis Woman magazine, "Ask the Doctor"
February 2008
February is National Heart Month, and St. John’s Mercy is taking this opportunity to provide important information about women’s heart health.
Q: What are the common warning signs of a heart attack, and how do they differ for women?
A: Chest discomfort is the most common symptom of a heart attack for both women and men. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. Other symptoms may include: discomfort in other areas of the upper body (one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach); shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort; anxiety; lightheadedness; sweating; and nausea or vomiting.
Research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks. According to the NIH, symptoms most commonly reported by women prior to a heart attack included: unusual fatigue, sleep disturbances, shortness of breath, indigestion and anxiety. Symptoms commonly reported by women during a heart attack included: shortness of breath, weakness, unusual fatigue and sweating.
You should seek help immediately if you think there is a possibility you could be having a heart attack. Wait no more than five minutes before calling 911. Ideally, heart-saving drugs should be given within an hour of the start of heart attack symptoms. Seeking help right away can prevent or limit damage to your heart.
Q: What are the risk factors for developing heart disease? Are there gender differences associated with these risk factors?
A: Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women and men alike. Your risk increases as you grow older, beginning at age 55 for women and age 45 for men. After menopause, women may be at increased risk for heart disease because production of estrogen drops and cholesterol rises.
For both women and men, risk factors that contribute to heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stress, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, family history and age. Smoking is a major risk factor for women; more than half of the heart attacks in women under 50 are related to smoking. Obesity is another major cardiac risk, predisposing you to high blood pressure, diabetes and other serious health conditions.
Although you can’t change your family history or your age, you can make lifestyle changes to avoid many of the other risk factors. If you do have risk factors, it is important to discuss them with your doctor.
Q: What can I do to reduce my risk for heart disease?
A: Eating healthfully, exercising, not smoking and taking medications to control blood pressure and cholesterol (if you’re prescribed them) can all help reduce your heart disease risk. Research shows that women can lower their risk enormously simply by leading a healthy lifestyle. In most cases, that means following a heart-healthy diet, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking. In addition, women over 50 should have their heart health assessed by a physician annually.
Q: How much exercise is enough to positively impact my overall cardiovascular health?
A: Healthy women should get at least 30 minutes of moderate-level exercise on most, and preferably all, days of the week. Examples include brisk walking or bike riding. Remember, your heart is a muscle. It needs regular exercise to stay in shape. Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program.
Q: How is heart disease diagnosed?
A: Your physician may order one or more diagnostic tests and/or surgical procedures to evaluate and treat your heart condition. Common tests that help identify cardiovascular disease include: electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG); stress testing (usually with ECG; also called treadmill or exercise ECG); echocardiogram (or heart ultrasound); coronary arteriogram (or angiogram); nuclear stress tests; electrophysiology tests; CT scans and other diagnostic techniques. Cardiac catheterization also may be required, in which a small catheter (hollow tube) is guided through a vein or artery into the heart to further examine heart structure and efficiency.
Q: What are the treatment options for heart disease?
A: Your treatment plan will be determined by your physician based on your overall health, medical history, the extent of the disease and other factors. The four most common treatment options for heart disease – lifestyle change, medication, angioplasty/stenting and surgery – can help most people successfully manage their condition. In cases where a correctable problem exists such as a blocked valve or clogged artery, surgery may be in order. The St. John’s Mercy Heart Hospital provides advanced cardiac interventions and surgical techniques, including: coronary angioplasty and artery stenting; artery bypass grafting and cardiac laser surgery; off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery; aortic aneurysm repair; inserting closure devices for congenital defects; implanting pacemakers and defibrillators; minimally invasive cardiac surgery; and valve repair/replacement.
Speak with your doctor or cardiovascular specialist for further information about treatment options for heart disease.