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Heart disease and women

CAD - women; Coronary artery disease - women

 

Information

People often DO NOT consider heart disease a woman's disease. Yet cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women over age 25. It kills nearly twice as many women in the United States as all types of cancer.

Men have a greater risk for heart disease earlier in life than women. Women's risk increases after menopause.

EARLY HEART DISEASE SIGNS

Women may have warning signs that go unnoticed for weeks or even years before a heart attack occurs.

  • Men most often have the "classic" heart attack signs: tightness in the chest, arm pain, and shortness of breath.
  • Women's symptoms can resemble those of men.
  • Women may also complain of other symptoms, such as nausea, fatigue, indigestion, anxiety, and dizziness.

ACT IN TIME

Recognizing and treating a heart attack right away improves your chance for survival. On average, a person having a heart attack will wait for 2 hours before calling for help.

Know the warning signs and always call 911 within 5 minutes of when symptoms begin. By acting quickly, you can limit damage to your heart.

MANAGE YOUR RISK FACTORS

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or having a certain health condition. You can change some risk factors for heart disease. Other risk factors you cannot change.

Women should work with their health care provider to address risk factors they can change.

  • Use lifestyle measures to keep your blood cholesterol levels in the right range. Targets for cholesterol levels vary depending on your risk factors. Ask your provider which targets are best for you.
  • Keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. Your ideal blood pressure level will depend on your risk factors. Discuss your target blood pressure with your provider.

Estrogen is no longer used to prevent heart disease in women of any age. Estrogen may increase the risk of heart disease for older women. However, it may still be used for some women to treat hot flashes or other medical problems.

  • Estrogen use is probably safest for women under age 60.
  • It should be used for the shortest possible period of time.
  • Only women who have a low risk for stroke, heart disease, blood clots, or breast cancer should take estrogen.

Some women (especially those with heart disease) can take a low dose aspirin daily to help prevent heart attacks. Some women will be advised to low dose aspirin to prevent stroke. Aspirin can increase the risk for bleeding, so check with your provider before beginning daily aspirin treatment.

LIVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Some of the risk factors for heart disease that you CAN change are:

  • DO NOT smoke or use tobacco.
  • Get plenty of exercise. Women who need to lose or keep off weight should get at least 60 to 90 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days. To maintain your health, get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, preferably at least 5 days a week.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Women should strive for a body mass index (BMI) of between 18.5 and 24.9 and a waist smaller than 35 inches (90 cm).
  • Get checked and treated for depression, if necessary.
  • Women with high cholesterol or triglyceride levels may benefit from omega-3 fatty acid supplements.

If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to no more than one drink per day. DO NOT drink just for the purpose of protecting your heart.

Good nutrition is important to your heart health, and it will help control some of your heart disease risk factors.

  • Eat a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
  • Choose lean proteins, such as chicken, fish, beans, and legumes.
  • Eat low-fat dairy products, such as skim milk and low-fat yogurt.
  • Avoid sodium (salt) and fats found in fried foods, processed foods, and baked goods.
  • Eat fewer animal products that contain cheese, cream, or eggs.
  • Read labels, and stay away from "saturated fat" and anything that contains "partially-hydrogenated" or "hydrogenated" fats. These products are most often high in unhealthy fats.

 

References

Fihn SD, Blankenship JC, Alexander KP, et al. 2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS focused update of the guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Circulation . 2014;130(19):1749-1767. PMID: 25070666 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25070666 .

Gulati M, Bairey Merz CN. Cardiovascular disease in women. In: Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 77.

Hansson GK, Hamsten A. Atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 70.

Hodis HN, Mack WJ, Henderson VW, et al. Vascular effects of early versus late postmenopausal treatment with estradiol. N Engl J Med . 2016;374(13):1221-1231. PMID: 27028912 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27028912 .

Meschia JF, Bushnell C, Boden-Albala B, et al. Guidelines for the primary prevention of stroke: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke . 2014;45(12):3754-3832. PMID: 25355838 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25355838 .

Mosca L, Benjamin EJ, Berra K, et al. Effectiveness-based guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women--2011 update: A guideline from the American Heart Association. Circulation . 2011;123(11):1243-1262. PMID: 21325087 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21325087 .

North American Menopause Society. The 2012 hormone therapy position statement of: The North American Menopause Society. Menopause . 2012;19(3):257-271. PMID: 22367731 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22367731 .

Ridker PM, Libby P, Buring JE. Risk markers and the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In: Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 42.

Smith SC Jr, Benjamin EJ, Bonow RO, et al. AHA/ACCF secondary prevention and risk reduction therapy for patients with coronary and other atherosclerotic vascular disease: 2011 update: a guideline from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology Foundation endorsed by the World Heart Federation and the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association. J Am Coll Cardiol . 2011;58(23):2432-2446. PMID: 22055990 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22055990 .

 
  • Chest pain

    Animation

  •  

    Chest pain - Animation

    Understand the causes of chest pain and when it may be an emergency.

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) overview

    Animation

  •  

    Coronary artery disease (CAD) overview - Animation

    A look at coronary artery disease (CAD) including causes, symptoms, health risks, and treatment.

  • Heart disease modifiable risk factors - obesity

    Animation

  •  

    Heart disease modifiable risk factors - obesity - Animation

    How reducing your weight can help decrease risk of heart disease.

  • Heart, section through the middle - illustration

    The interior of the heart is composed of valves, chambers, and associated vessels.

    Heart, section through the middle

    illustration

  • Heart, front view - illustration

    The external structures of the heart include the ventricles, atria, arteries and veins. Arteries carry blood away from the heart while veins carry blood into the heart. The vessels colored blue indicate the transport of blood with relatively low content of oxygen and high content of carbon dioxide. The vessels colored red indicate the transport of blood with relatively high content of oxygen and low content of carbon dioxide.

    Heart, front view

    illustration

  • Acute MI - illustration

    A heart attack or acute myocardial infarction (MI) occurs when one of the arteries that supplies the heart muscle becomes blocked. Blockage may be caused by spasm of the artery or by atherosclerosis with acute clot formation. The blockage results in damaged tissue and a permanent loss of contraction of this portion of the heart muscle.

    Acute MI

    illustration

  • Healthy diet - illustration

    For a healthy diet, replace unhealthy and fattening foods with healthier alternatives, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.

    Healthy diet

    illustration

  • Chest pain

    Animation

  •  

    Chest pain - Animation

    Understand the causes of chest pain and when it may be an emergency.

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) overview

    Animation

  •  

    Coronary artery disease (CAD) overview - Animation

    A look at coronary artery disease (CAD) including causes, symptoms, health risks, and treatment.

  • Heart disease modifiable risk factors - obesity

    Animation

  •  

    Heart disease modifiable risk factors - obesity - Animation

    How reducing your weight can help decrease risk of heart disease.

  • Heart, section through the middle - illustration

    The interior of the heart is composed of valves, chambers, and associated vessels.

    Heart, section through the middle

    illustration

  • Heart, front view - illustration

    The external structures of the heart include the ventricles, atria, arteries and veins. Arteries carry blood away from the heart while veins carry blood into the heart. The vessels colored blue indicate the transport of blood with relatively low content of oxygen and high content of carbon dioxide. The vessels colored red indicate the transport of blood with relatively high content of oxygen and low content of carbon dioxide.

    Heart, front view

    illustration

  • Acute MI - illustration

    A heart attack or acute myocardial infarction (MI) occurs when one of the arteries that supplies the heart muscle becomes blocked. Blockage may be caused by spasm of the artery or by atherosclerosis with acute clot formation. The blockage results in damaged tissue and a permanent loss of contraction of this portion of the heart muscle.

    Acute MI

    illustration

  • Healthy diet - illustration

    For a healthy diet, replace unhealthy and fattening foods with healthier alternatives, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.

    Healthy diet

    illustration

A Closer Look

 

Talking to your MD

 

    Self Care

     

    Tests for Heart disease and women

     

     

    Review Date: 4/20/2015

    Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Internal review and update on 09/01/2016 by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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