Smart Woman: Heart Health
By: Katy Garcia
Updated: October 29, 2012
Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women. It takes the lives of more people than all types of cancers combined! So it's not surprising that a new survey from the American Heart Association revealed 47 percent of American women who believe they are having a heart attack, do not call 9-1-1. Some believe it's what women don't know that's killing them.
In this sea of runners KC Maurer is running for her life. Thankful she has a life!
This, after having three heart attacks before she was 40 years old!
"it felt like somebody had punched me in the sternum and that's the only pain i had."
Cardiologist Holly Anderson says while heart disease has been decreasing the past decade for men, it's on the rise in women between 25 and 39. In fact, by age 40, women have a 50 percent chance of developing heart disease. Do you know your risk?
First, true or false...a stomach ache, nausea, vomiting, or unexplained sweating can all be signs of a heart attack?
True- while classic signs of a heart attack can occur, women are more likely to have gas, pain in the jaw, shoulder and upper back and extreme fatigue.
But most women don't even realize they're having a heart attack.
Cardiologist Andersen says, "sometimes the first symptom is sudden death."
For a healthy heart, women should have a waist of 29 inches, 34 inches or 40 inches?
Even a half an inch off your waistline will make a dramatic difference. If you could only cut out one of the following...which would be better for your heart? According to the American heart association, a woman who smokes will have a heart attack 19 years earlier than non smokers. But caffeine is not much better. Caffeine stimulates the nervous system which speeds up the heart rate.
KC's arteries were going into spasms. Medication now keeps the spasms under control giving kc better control of her heart and her life.
A recent survey found that fewer than one in five physicians knew that more women than men die each year from heart disease. That's why it's important for you to be your own health advocate. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and blood cholesterol level once a year.
For more about heart health: what you don't know could kill you!
