The leading cause of death among women is heart attack, according to the Mayo Clinic. Heart symptoms for women are not the same as for men in many instances, which can cause a woman to not seek life saving medical care. It is important to see medical advice any time you have questions about heart issues; however, educating yourself about women’s heart issues can help you understand the importance of recognizing the importance of proper medical evaluations and treatment.
Heart Attack
Heart attack symptoms in a woman are different than they are in a man. A woman having a heart attack may not feel the chest-crushing pain that men feel during a heart attack. Instead, many women typically have nausea and vomiting, backache, a pain that radiates to their jaw or teeth and stomach pain that feels like heartburn. Women also tend to get a pain between their shoulder blades when a heart attack is underway, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Cholesterol
The American Heart Association reports that women who are premenopausal generally have healthier cholesterol levels than their male counterparts. Women who are periomenopausal or post-menopausal, however, have an increased risk of increased cholesterol levels. Elevated LDL — bad cholesteral — numbers are a known risk for heart disease.
Blood Pressure
Elevated blood pressure levels put woman at risk for heart attack and stroke. According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of the people with high blood pressure at any given time in America are women. From the age of 65 on, more women then men have high blood pressure. It is important to have your blood pressure checked by medical professionals, and if it is elevated, carefully follow your doctor’s instructions about getting it reduced. This may include exercise, weight loss, smoking cessation or taking blood pressure medications.
