Heart Attacks Also Happen to Women

Almost 2/3 of the women who die suddenly of heart attacks have no previous symptoms. On Friday, February 4, 2011, Americans nationwide will wore red to show their support for woman's heart disease awareness on National Wear Red Day. Half the people that die from heart disease are women.

Friday's observance promotes the red dress symbol. It provides an opportunity for women everywhere to unite in this event – promoting awareness by putting on a favorite red dress, shirt, tie, or red dress pin. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and partner organizations seek to make women more aware of the danger of heart disease. This campaign is especially aimed at women ages 40 to 60, as that is when the women's risk of heart disease begins to climb. However, it is important for younger women also as they can start to develop heart disease of young age.

Heart disease disproportionately affects women of color, African-American and Hispanic women in particular have high rates of the major risk factors for heart disease including obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. An astonishing 80% of women between the ages of 40 and 60 have one or more risk factors for heart disease. According to can research compiled by the NHLBI, having just one risk factor doubles your chance of developing heart disease.

While a few risk factors can't be changed, most of them can. It is so important to realize you can take control of your body and reduce your risk. It can be as simple as eating healthier and taking a nice walk in the morning.

• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Being overweight
• Being physically inactive
• Having a family history of early heart disease
• Age (55 or older for women
• Stress especially with high stress jobs
  

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes.
• Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms. The pain may be mild to intense. It may feel like pressure, tightness, burning, or heavy weight. It may be located in the chest, upper abdomen, neck, jaw, or inside the arms or shoulders.
• Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
• Anxiety, nervousness and/or cold, sweaty skin.
• Paleness or pallor.
• Increased or irregular heart rate.
• Feeling of impending doom.

Not all of these symptoms occur in every heart attack. You may have chest discomfort while walking on a treadmill or doing some other exercise. You may have some chest discomfort known as angina briefly and then it may go away. Many people make make the mistake of ignoring these symptoms until it's too late. Do not ignore these symptoms. Seek out your Dr. so he can run some test if necessary.

Almost 2/3 of the women who die suddenly of heart attacks have no previous symptoms. You don't always have pain when you have a heart attack.

If you have these signs yourself or are with someone exhibiting these symptoms, call 911 immediately!  Chew 2 aspirins immediately also, as this helps prolong your life.  If the person loses consciousness began CPR by putting the person on the floor to have a hard surface. Remember there are new CPR guidelines, you don't need to be certified or give breaths, only chest compressions are required. As you use both hands to push up and down on the sternum it helps to count to keep your rhythm, saying 1 1000, 2 1000, and so forth. Do not stop the compressions until the medics arrived to unless the person regains consciousness.

According to the CDC heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and people of all ages and backgrounds can get the condition. Half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2006, were women. Every year about 785,000 Americans have a first heart attack and another 470,000 will have had one or more heart attacks already. The 2010, heart disease will cost United States $316.4 billion. The total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.

More than one in three female adults have some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since 1984, the number of CVD deaths for females has exceeded those for males. In 2006, CVD was the cause of death in 432,709 females which are represented 52.1% of all deaths from heart attacks. Breast cancer claimed the lives of 40,821 females; lung cancer claimed 69,385.

About 8.4 million females living today have a history of heart attack, angina pectoris, or both. Of these, 3.5 million have a history of myocardial infarction.

As you can see heart disease is a major problem for all people and more than half are women. It is important to know the signs and symptoms of heart disease and if you experience the symptoms to call your doctor. If you develop symptoms that don't always quickly, call 911 immediately. I can't stress that too much. Time is crucial to save your life.

The copyright to this article is owned by Pamela Oglesby. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by the author in writing. (You can, however, freely use the opening introduction and photo with a link to the article here on HubPages to read the remainder of the article.)