February is known as Heart Month and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), one in thirty women will die of all cancers combined but one in three women will die of heart disease. The AHA conducted a study where half the women interviewed knew that heart disease was their #1 killer yet only 13% said it was their greatest personal health risk. Why? Another survey data suggested that most women worry more about breast cancer – even though heart disease kills 6 times as many women each year. Breast cancer affects a woman’s body image, sexuality, and self-esteem in ways that a diagnosis of heart disease does not. So unfortunately, heart disease symptoms can get ignored.
GENDER DOES MATTER
A woman’s heart may look just like a man’s heart but there are significant differences. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “A woman’s heart is usually smaller as well as some of its interior chambers. The walls that divide some of these chambers are thinner and a woman’s heart pumps faster than a man’s, it ejects about 10% less blood with each squeeze. When a woman is stressed, her pulse rate rises, and her heart pumps more blood. When a man is stressed, the arteries of his heart constrict, raising his blood pressure.” But why does that matter? They matter because gender plays a key role in the symptoms, treatments and outcomes of Coronary artery disease (CAD). Referencing the Women’s Heart Foundation:
- Under the age of 50, women’s heart attacks are twice as likely as men’s to be fatal.
- Men’s plaque distributes in clumps whereas woman’s distributes evenly throughout artery walls. This results in women’s angiographic studies being misinterpreted as ‘normal’.
- Women are 43% more likely to die the first year following a heart attack compared to 24% of men.
- 64% of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms.
- Only 24% of heart studies are done on women.
- Women receive fewer heart disease procedures than men and the best course of treatment for a woman with heart disease has yet to be established.
- Women’s hearts respond better than men’s to healthy lifestyle changes yet 2% of the NIH budget is dedicated to prevention.
WHAT ARE YOUR RISKS?
Several traditional risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity affect both men and women. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, there are much bigger factors driving the development of heart disease in women.
Heart disease risk factors for women include:
- Diabetes. Women with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease than are men with diabetes. Also, because diabetes can change the way you feel pain, you’re at greater risk of having a silent heart attack — without symptoms.
- Mental stress and depression. Stress and depression affect women’s hearts more than men’s. Depression makes it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow recommended treatment.
- Smoking. Smoking is a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than it is in men.
- Inactivity. A lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for heart disease. Some research has found women to be less active than men.
- Menopause. Low levels of estrogen after menopause pose a significant risk of developing disease in smaller blood vessels.
- Pregnancy complications. High blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy can increase the mother’s long-term risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. The conditions also make women more likely to get heart disease.
- Family history of early heart disease. This appears to be a greater risk factor in women than in men.
- Inflammatory diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and others can increase the risk of heart disease in both men and women.
WARNING SIGNS & SYMPTOMS FOR WOMEN
Although some women have no symptoms, others may experience the following:
- Neck, jaw, shoulder, upperback or abdominal discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in one or both arms
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Unusual fatigue
- Indigestion
According to the American Heart Association, it is 80% preventable by just knowing our warning signs of a female heart attack. The Mayo Clinic promotes the following strategies to reduce their risk of heart disease:
- Quit smoking. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Try to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, which also can damage blood vessels.
- Exercise regularly. In general, everybody should do moderate exercise, such as walking at a brisk pace, on most days of the week.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Ask your doctor what weight is best for you. If you’re overweight, losing even a few pounds can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes.
- Eat a healthy diet. Opt for whole grains, a variety of fruits and vegetables, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and lean meats. Avoid saturated or trans fats, added sugars, and high amounts of salt.
- Manage your stress. Stress can cause your arteries to tighten, which can increase your risk of heart disease, particularly coronary microvascular disease.
- Limit alcohol. If you have more than one drink a day, cut back. One drink is approximately 12 ounces (360 milliliters) of beer, 5 ounces (150 milliliters) of wine or 1.5 ounces (45 milliliters) of distilled spirits, such as vodka or whiskey.
- Follow your treatment plan. Take your medications as prescribed, such as blood pressure medications, blood thinners and aspirin.
- Manage other health conditions. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes increase the risk of heart disease.
As we observe Heart Month, the best thing we all can do as women is to be better advocates for ourselves. Did you know that only 8% of family doctors recognize that Heart Disease our #1 Killer? So, one would think that talking to our primary care doctors about heart disease would greatly benefit our odds preventing heart disease but sadly, that is not the case. As women, many of us are caretakers. We want to help our family members far more than we take care of our own wellbeing. Statistically, women are far more likely to wait before calling 9-1-1 to get the much needed help we may need to save our life. It is ok to take care of ourselves. Our families need us. Think of it like this….. if a husband and wife of the same age, walk into the same Emergency Room at the same hospital with the same heart symptoms you would think they would be treated identically. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Women are treated much differently and get sent home far more often than men. Therefore, it is crucial that we become our own best advocates! You are worth it!
Elizabeth Scovil is an International Speaker and the CEO & Founder of Elizabeth Scovil Heart Foundation. As a Heart Survivor at the age of 46, she began her Foundation as a way to hopefully save a woman’s life and support women who are living with Heart Disease.
Her goal is to give women an 80% increased chance of life by providing a warning sign card of a female heart attack and stroke, heart medicine, and Fitbit watches that can help track heart rates- which are distributed through local hospitals. Elizabeth Scovil can be reached at ElizabethScovilHeartFoundation. Email her at Elizabeth@ElizabethScovil.com or call at (407) 947-5006.
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