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Women's Heart Attacks
February 18, 2008 |
When it comes to preventing heart disease most people know exercise and diet can
play a big part in the health of your heart. Dr. Richard Davis is a cardiologist
who often reminds his patients of easy things they can do to lessen their risk.
He says, “Push away from the dinner table, limit the calories that you consume
and begin a regular exercise program.” Men and women may be able to help prevent
heart disease in similar ways but when it comes to recognizing a heart attack
that can prove to be more challenging for females. “Women have been challenging
because a woman cardiac patients presents often with not the typical oppressive
chest pain that is the hallmark of a cardiac event,” says Dr. Davis. Because
their symptoms may not be the norm, many women who experience a heart attack may
think it’s something less severe. Dr. Davis says, “Women could present with
rather atypical symptoms which could include fatigue, shortness of breath, maybe
gastrointestinal symptoms.” Women need to be aware that their heart attack
symptoms may not be extreme or typical. This is especially important to realize
now that heart disease is a growing health problem for American women. “Coronary
artery disease is probably at least twice as prevalent as breast cancer in a
female patient. If there are risk factors, family history, diabetes hypertension
obesity I think the female patient should be attune to the concern that she may
have coronary artery disease as a major health problem in the future,” says Dr.
Davis. For more on women’s heart health you can log onto www.americanheart.org.
Statistics show that one in every three women in America die of heart disease. |
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