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Women & Heart Disease
August 8, 2007
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Heart disease kills nearly twice as many women in the United States each year as
all forms of cancer combined.
Men have more heart attacks and strokes than women do, but more women die from cardiovascular
disease. In fact, heart attacks and strokes have been killing more women than men
every year since the mid-eighties. Gayle Davis says, “Statistics like this are really
a wake up call for all women and we really have to start paying more attention to
our heart health.”
Doctors like Cardiologist Elizabeth Cintron say that on average, women find out
they have cardiovascular disease at an older age then men do. “Usually when they're
diagnosed with coronary artery disease they tend to have other diseases as well,
which makes them a
little higher risk then their male counterparts.”
Dr. Cintron says that many women won’t experience the textbook symptoms of heart
disease. “Women may just present with shortness of breath or just not feeling well
and a lot of times they just don't present right away because they have other things
to do in the house that may keep them from wanting to seek medical attention.”
Dr. Cintron adds that unhealthy lifestyle choices increase both men’s and women’s
risk for heart disease, but – luckily for both sexes – that’s also the easiest risk
factor to reverse. “They need to stay up to date for prevention of heart disease,
meaning, their blood pressure control, maintaining a good cholesterol profile, maintaining
an active lifestyle, with exercise.”
A crucial step in determining your risk for heart disease is to
see your doctor
for a thorough checkup. Your physician can be an important partner in helping you
set and reach goals for a healthier heart.
For American women age 35 and older, heart disease is the number one cause of death.
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