Which kills more American women each year: breast cancer or heart disease? Actually, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American women.
Each year, cardiovascular disease and stroke cause one of every three deaths of American women, according to the American Heart Association. One of every 31 die of breast cancer. In fact, more American women than men die from heart disease every year.
YES, WOMEN HAVE HEART ATTACKS
Heart disease is a blood vessel disorder of the heart and can lead to heart attacks. Often, people mistakenly think heart disease affects mainly men. That’s because heart disease tends to hit men at an earlier age than it does women, and because heart attack symptoms often are more obvious in men than in women.
Men are more likely to suffer the crushing chest pain that clearly signals a heart attack, while women might just feel pressure or tightness in the chest.
Another difference is that women actually face additional risk factors for heart disease related to their hormone levels and their pregnancy and menopause history. A woman has an increased risk of heart disease with the following risk factors:
- First menstrual cycle at age 10 or younger
- Postmenopausal, especially if menopause occurred before age 44, either naturally or due to a hysterectomy
- Experienced high blood pressure before or during pregnancy, including preeclampsia
- Diagnosed with gestational diabetes
- Suffered a miscarriage
- Delivered a baby before the 37th week of pregnancy
Women also face most of the same factors that increase the risk of heart disease for men. The likelihood of heart disease increases for both men and women who are at least 55 years old, overweight or with the following risk factors:
- A family history of premature heart disease, which includes a father or brother diagnosed at age 50 or younger, or a mother or sister diagnosed at age 60 or younger
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Chronic kidney disease
- A smoking habit, especially for women who take birth control pills
- Depression
- Inflammatory disease, such as arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease
LOWER THE RISK
Many risk factors can’t be changed, such as a woman’s age or family history. However, most women can improve their cardiovascular health and lessen their risk of heart disease by making simple lifestyle changes:
- Quit smoking. When a woman stops smoking, she can cut her risk of heart disease in half in just one year.
- Achieve and maintain a body mass index under 30. (Enter a person’s weight, height and activity level into an online BMI calculator to calculate the BMI number.) Losing as little as 10 pounds can make a difference in heart health.
- Get 2 1/2 to three hours of moderate aerobic exercise each week. This can lower blood pressure and increase levels of good cholesterol.
- Eat a heart healthy diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, fish, whole grains and nuts, legumes and seeds. Limit sodium, saturated fats and processed meats.
- Work with a physician to manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes and inflammatory diseases.
- Learn to use relaxation, meditation and other techniques to manage stress.
An annual well-woman medical visit should include a review of most risk factors and a discussion about how to adopt heart-healthy habits. These can even eliminate the need for cholesterol or blood pressure medications for some women, and lead to longer, more active lives.
Dr. Jason Fragin is a cardiovascular specialist with Penn State Medical Group, 303 Benner Pike, Suite 1, in State College.
