The
Silent Killer
Women were once previously thought to be at a lower
risk for heart disease, but recent studies have shown
that one in three women will die from heart disease.
Coronary Artery Disease is the most common type of heart
disease. It is a buildup of plaque from fat, cholesterol,
and calcium; this can narrow your arteries. This narrowing
can cause reduced blood flow to the heart. A complete
blockage is a heart attack. Being aware of possible
signs and symptoms of a heart attack can make the difference
between life or death.
Some
common symptoms are:
-
Pressure or pain in the center of the chest
-
Pressure or pain radiating to shoulders, arms, neck,
jaw, or back
-
Sweating
-
Nausea
-
Shortness of breath
-
Weakness
Heart
disease can go unnoticed for many years, with a major
heart attack being your only clue that you had this silent
killer. This is why prevention is so important.
Risk
factors associated with heart disease:
- High
Blood Pressure
- High
Cholesterol
-
Smoking
-
Physical Inactivity
-
Obesity
-
Diabetes
-
Stress
-
Family History of Heart Disease
If
any of the above risk factors describe you, then you may
be at risk. A visit to see your physician for an assessment
and to develop a plan for prevention may save your life.
Rochelle
Pututau of the Lakeside 5th Ward in Provo, Utah has a
strong family history of heart disease. Rochelle's mother,
MarDean, always had high blood pressure and high cholesterol,
but the family had no idea she also had coronary artery
disease. One night after consistent jaw pain and heartburn
she went to the hospital to be evaluated. An EKG did not
show any significant problems but she was kept in the
hospital overnight for observation. During the night her
heart gave out, and she was rushed into bypass surgery.
MarDean never had any signs or symptoms prior to this
event that would indicate she had heart disease. She ate
and lived very healthy all of her life, and took the appropriate
medications to control her high blood pressure and cholesterol.
After this heart attack, MarDean continued more than ever
to exercise and eat right. Now Rochelle has also become
more conscious of her diet. She has an automatic blood
pressure cuff that she uses at home. She also goes in
for regular check ups with a physician that include a
cholesterol screen. She does not have the same high blood
pressure and high cholesterol as her mother did, but genetics
do play a significant role as a risk factor in developing
heart disease.
The
best prevention of heart disease is to reduce your risk
factors. Healthy habits that are good to include in your
lifestyle are exercising and eating right.
Guidelines
for optimum heart health:
- Get
regular medical check-ups
-
Control your blood pressure
-
Check your cholesterol
-
Don't Smoke
-
Exercise regularly
-
Maintain a healthy weight
-
Eat a heart-healthy diet
Women
need to be proactive in their care. Recent studies have
shown that hormones, once thought to protect women against
heart disease, play no part in protecting women from heart
disease. If you have any symptoms suggestive of a heart
attack make sure you are checked carefully for heart disease.
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Heart
Facts
Statistics
Released by the American Heart Association
- Almost
one out of every 2.5 deaths result from cardiovascular
disease.
- Since
1900, cardiovascular disease has been the leading
cause of death in every year but one - 1918.
- About
every 29 seconds an American will suffer a coronary
event, and about every minute someone will die from
one.
- Cardiovascular
disease is the cause of more deaths than the next
six causes of death combined.
- It
is a myth that heart disease is a man's disease. In
fact, cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer
of women (and men). These diseases currently claim
the lives of more than a half a million females every
year - more than the next 16 causes of death combined.
- Approximately
one-third (34 percent) of cardiovascular disease deaths
occur prematurely (before age 75).
- The
cost of cardiovascular disease in 2001 is estimated
at $298.2 billion - an increase of about $12 billion
from 1998.
- Strokes
killed 158,448 people in 1998 - on average, someone
in the US suffers a stroke every 53 seconds; someone
dies every 3.3 minutes from stroke.
- Stroke
is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability
that accounts for more than half of all patients hospitalized
for a neurological disease.
- Stroke
deaths have been increasing in recent years.
Heart
Healthy Links
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