Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States.  One in three American women dies of heart disease.  In 2003, almost twice as many women died of heart disease than from all cancers combined.  While heart disease and breast cancer are the leading causes of death in patients over 65, in nearly every age group, more American women die from heart disease than breast cancer.  Although about 36 percent of American women will die from heart disease, only 4 percent fear it as their leading cause of death, according to a recent Gallup survey.  The National Center for health Statistics reported that 40 percent of women feared dying from breast cancer, even though only 4 percent of them actually do. 

The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease.  All women should take steps to prevent heart disease.  Certain traits, conditions, or habits may raise your chance of deveoping heart disease.  These conditions are known as risk factors.  You can control most risk factors and help to delay the onset of heart disease.  Unfortunately, not all risk factors can be controlled.  The more risk factors you have, the more at risk you are for developing heart disease.  Risk factors for development of heart disease include:  high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, cigarette smoking and family history of early development of heart disease, (mother or father died of heart disease before the age of 60).   Other possible risk factors include lack of exercise, obesity and stress.

According to the American Heart Association, nearly two thirds of the deaths from heart attacks in women occur among  those who have no history of chest pain.  Women wait longer than men to go to an energency room when having a heart attack.  Women often say that they are too busy to go to the doctor or that the symptom that they are experiencing will eventualy  go away.  Women tend not to stop and take care of themselves because they are often juggling jobs, children, marriage, finances, elderly  parents, etc.

Heart disease often has no symptoms, especially in women.  There are some symptoms that you should  be aware of.  Chest pain or discomfort can be a symptom of heart disease and a warning sign of a heart attack.  Shortness of breath, diziness, nausea, palpitations (skipping or racing heartbeat) or feeling very tired are also signs.  Some women have more vaue symptoms such as:  unusual tiredness, trouble sleeping, problems breathing, indigestion (heartburn) and anxiety.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above or would like more information about heart disease, please contact Southern Heart Specialists for a consultation.  We will take a medical history, do a physical exam and order tests for further evaluation.  A rule to remember, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".  By raising awareness, we all can play a part in the battle against heart disease.