By William A. Baruwa
Heart disease is a term used to refer to many types of heart conditions, including coronary artery disease as well as heart attack.
Even though heart disease is occasionally seen as a man’s disease, nearly as many women as men die every year due to heart disease in the United States for instance. In Nigeria however, experts lament the extreme dearth of verifiable data in this regard. How women are affected Increases in level of consciousness over the past decades notwithstanding, just a little more than half of women recognise that heart disease is a major killer among their population.
Thus it becomes imperative that women should know the following facts concerning them and heart disease:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, killing 299,578 women in 2017 which equals to about 1 in every 5 female deaths.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for African Americans and white women in the United States. Among American Indians and Alaska Native women, heart disease and cancer cause roughly the same number of deaths each year. For Hispanic and Asian or Pacific Islander women, heart disease is second only to cancer as a cause of death.
About 1 in 16 women age 20 and older (6.2%) have coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease:
o About 1 in 16 white women (6.1%), black women (6.5%), and Hispanic women (6%)
o About 1 in 30 Asian women (3.2%)
Signs and symptoms of heart disease
While some women have no symptoms, others are likely to have
Angina (dull and heavy or sharp chest pain or discomfort)
Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat
Pain in the upper abdomen or back
These symptoms will possibly happen when you are having a rest or when you are
partaking in normal daily routine activities. And, women are likely to have other
symptoms, such as:
Nausea
Vomiting
Tiredness
From time to time heart disease may be “silent” and not diagnosed until you have other symptoms or emergencies such as:
Heart attack: Pain in the chest or distress, upper back or pain in the neck, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme tiredness, upper body uneasiness, giddiness, and shortness of breath
Arrhythmia: Wavering feelings in the chest or palpitations
Heart failure: Shortness of breath, tiredness, or swollen feet, ankles, legs, stomach, or neck veins
Experts say if any of these symptoms are observed, do not hesitate to see your doctor.
Risk factors for heart disease
High blood pressure, high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, and smoking are important risk factors that may lead to heart disease. So many other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can as well put you at a higher risk for heart disease, including the followings:
Diabetes
Being overweight or obese
Consumption of unwholesome diet
Physical inactivity
Too much alcohol consumption
You can reduce your risk of heart disease
In reducing the possibility of having a heart disease, it’s vital to do the following:
Be familiar with your blood pressure. Having uncontrolled blood pressure will possibly cause a heart disease. High blood pressure may show no symptoms; therefore it becomes vital to get a regular blood pressure check.
Consult your doctor or health care experts on whether you will need a diabetes test done. Uncontrolled diabetes increases your risk of heart disease.
Do not smoke. If you already smoke, then stop!
Think about checking your blood cholesterol and triglycerides
Ensure to eat healthy. Keep a healthy weight also to avoid heart disease. Limit your alcohol consumption per day.
Be sure to manage your stress levels by discovering healthy ways to cope with all the different pressures of the day.
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