Little girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice. Little boys are made of frogs and snails and puppy dogs tails. Even from the start, little boys and little girls are different. As we grow into adults those differences continue, including how our bodies react to a heart attack.
Heart attack symptoms displayed by men and women are considerably different. When a woman has a heart attack she may experience nausea, overwhelming fatigue and dizziness. Her warning signs of an impending heart attack could include shortness of breath, vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is especially true for women and heart disease. Admittedly, some heart disease risk factors are beyond our control, such as family history and age. After menopause, a woman’s chance of developing heart disease soars because her body’s production of estrogen drops. But you can take an active role in preventing cardiovascular disease by managing your risk factors.
- Don’t smoke.
- Lower your cholesterol.
- Maintain a normal weight.
- Exercise.
- Manage your diabetes, if you have the condition.
Having just one of the risk factors for heart disease can be dangerous. But having multiple risks is even more serious because risk factors tend to intensify the effects of others and increase your chances of developing a heart condition. To learn more about your risk for developing heart disease, take the free, online Heart Quiz for Women at www.DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/HeartQuizforWomen.
In honor of National Go Red for Women Day, Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake is offering free red dress lapel pins to help raise awareness of women and heart disease. Call 866-764-3627 for your free pin today.
Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake
214 324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com