I hate to start with the staggering statistics that heart disease affects about 44 million U.S. women. But I am. According to the American Heart Association, women are two times more likely to die than men within the first few weeks of a heart attack. I want to dive into Women’s Heart Health: What you need to know.
It’s possible to survive a cardiac event. Here’s where knowing the signs and responding with fast action makes all the difference between life, death, and survival. Some research says subtle symptoms show up one month before the actual heart event. Know Your Body.
Before we get started with heart health, first, let’s begin with the basics of knowing your risk factors. The risk factors for heart disease:
♥️ A family history of heart disease
◊ Diabetes
♥ High blood pressure
◊ High Cholesterol
♥ Smoking
◊ Obesity
Heart disease can be managed by making healthier lifestyle choices and working with your doctor to manage medical conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Additional risk factors alcohol/drug use, stress, eating processed or junk food, and being a couch potato. We control these lifestyle habits by our choices every day.
By now, you probably know your risk factors, but what about the signs & symptoms of a heart attack. For women, the symptoms are not always dramatic.
Please note these unusual symptoms of women’s heart attack:
♥ Unusual fatigue
♥ Sleep disturbances
♥ Shortness of breath
♥ Indigestion
♥ Anxiety
If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling for help, better yet, get to a hospital emergency room right away. Know the ABCs of women’s heart health.
You know what you got to do to reduce the risk of women’s heart disease:
♥ Heart Healthy Diet
♥ Get Active. Stay Active. Enjoy Active
♥ Don’t Smoke
♥ Limit Alcohol
♥ Reduce Stress
♥ Get a Yearly Physical
♥️ Practice Self Care
Don’t forget to help bring awareness to the Women’s Heart Health by participating this Friday, February 7, in National Wear Red Day promoted by the American Heart Association.
Addendum: The beauties joined me on National We Red Day: All Instagram handles starting from top left:
LaVerne @lgkimball
Sheila @sheilafit50plus
Lydia @birabiro
Gail @seasonedfashionista
Carolyn @styleyourbeauti
Wendy @rockstardollbabybaba
Cynthia @2chicdesigns
Neti @mzneti
As always, thank you for reading. Have a fabulous week.
