Posts Tagged ‘Having A Heart Attack’

Heart Disease and Women – Heart Attack Warning Signs

Monday, May 9th, 2011

We have all seen the movies where the actor clutches his chest and falls to the ground, a victim of a heart attack. Did you know that it doesn’t always happen this way? Some people, many of them women, have no idea that they are having a heart attack because the symptoms simply don’t fit the stereotypical view most of us have of what a heart attack is like.

Women are especially prone to having different symptoms and many times feel no chest pain at all. Even some emergency rooms don’t immediately realize what is occurring in some patients. Women have even been turned away from emergency rooms because the symptoms are so unlike those of most men. A female friend recently had a heart attack and all the pain was concentrated in her jaw, no chest pain at any time! Luckily, the local hospital knew the signs for females.

The classic symptoms that we all know about include a great pressure or pain in the chest area that can extend to the left shoulder and arm. It may also spread to the neck and jaw area. Nausea, sweating and shortness of breath often accompany the chest pain. These are all quickly recognized as being the signs of a heart attack in progress. Quick medical attention is imperative!

But what if there is no chest pain? How can you recognize them so you can quickly get the attention you desperately need? Medical professionals and women themselves need to be aware of the common signs so they can act quickly to prevent further damage to the heart.

About half of women have no chest pain which is quite a surprising number. The most common signs are shortness of breath, feelings of extreme weakness, and great fatigue. Some women report that for several weeks before the heart attack they feel unusual fatigue and discomfort in the upper back.

Many females are misdiagnosed with gastrointestinal problems because only nausea or a feeling of indigestion might be present. Stomach pains may be felt as long as six weeks before the problem reveals itself, and shortness of breath can occur as well. These are common signs among women that a coronary artery is dangerously blocked.

Although warning signs may occur, the actual attack is usually more severe and the symptoms appear even while resting or sleeping. Time is of the essence, and there should be no delay in calling 911 to have an ambulance take you to the hospital. This is the best choice, as they can begin treating the heart attack immediately. Each minute of help improves the chances of minimizing heart damage.

Heart attacks in women can sometimes be difficult to detect. Now that you know these warning signs, they could very well save your life!

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885 anytime
Skype: Monique371

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Women’s Heart Attack-One Month To A Healthier Heart

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Many women think, “Women’s heart attack? Me having a heart attack? It will never happen.” Unfortunately, none of us are immune to this potential problem. A recent Harvard study found that 92% of women are in danger of developing cardiovascular disease.

“Fortunately, research suggests that your lifestyle-from the friends you interact with to the time you go to bed-has a huge impact on your heart,” says Marie Savard, MD a Philadelphia internet.

Over the next few posts, we will be covering 24 tips you can follow to keep your heart going strong for life.

Tip #1: Be A Sodium Detective. The average American woman digests 50% more than the daily recommendation of 2400 milligrams. Since most of our sodium intake comes from processed foods, women should be always carefully study the nutrition label on every package.

Tip#2: Hang Out With The Girls. Going out with your gal pals could be very healthy for your heart; just at much as hitting the gym. Researchers have found that lonely people have anywhere from 10-30 points higher blood pressure levels than those who are more sociable. Plus, this is a great stress reliever!

Tip#3: Eat a Baked Potato: Spuds have a lot of potassium which can offset the effects of sodium, According to a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, consuming twice as much potassium as sodium daily can reduce your reduce your risk by half of dying from cardiovascular disease. Since most Americans consume only half of the 4,700 mg that are needed, ladies, load up on potatoes which have 900 mg each and bananas which have 430 mg each.

Tip #4: Use Interval Training. If you are a gym goer and usually set your elliptical, treadmill, bike, etc. on the same level, mix things up. Use bursts of speed between steady paces. Researchers from Canada’s McMaster University found that just 20 minutes of interval training (alternating near maximum exertion with low intensity exertion) is just as effective at strengtening your heart as an hour of moderate exercise. Interval training is fantastic for your heart because it causes your heart to pump faster and harder which strengthens your arteries, accorind to Maureen McDonald, Ph.D.

These are really great tips to avoid being a woman who develops women’s heart attack problems. I will be sharing more heart healthy prevention tips in the next post.

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve To Have A Healthy Heart” Newletter!

P.S. For more information about Vita Che, what I call the Roto Rooter for your arteries, visit my online nutrition store at http://699456.shopvitamark.com

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Posted in Womens Heart Attack | 7 Comments »

Women’s Heart Problems|Women’s Heart Problems May Be Misdiagnosed

Monday, January 18th, 2010

Sometimes, women’s heart problems are not as quickly and efficiently picked up as men’s. There is a reason for this and here is why. This is from a website called Guardian.co.uk

Women’s heart problems may be misdiagnosed as symptoms of stress

Doctors may be slower to diagnose women with heart disease, because they suspect their symptoms are caused by stress. That’s the message from a study of 230 doctors. The delay could deprive women of treatments that protect against heart attacks.
What do we know already?

Heart disease, where the arteries get clogged with fatty deposits, is the most common cause of heart attacks. Although it’s more common among men, women get heart disease too. It tends to happen to older women. It is thought that the hormones that women produce before the menopause protect women against heart problems.

Yet we know that even older women are less likely than men to be diagnosed with heart disease. This may mean they don’t get the treatment they need to prevent a heart attack.

We don’t know for sure why women don’t get diagnosed. In the past, some doctors have thought of heart disease as mainly a man’s problem. Also, women often have different symptoms from men if they have a heart attack, so that can confuse the diagnosis. But doctors are now aware that women also get heart disease, and that they sometimes have different symptoms. So researchers are looking for other reasons that might affect the doctors’ judgements.
What does the new study say?

The study asked 230 doctors to read case studies giving details of a man aged 47 and a woman aged 56 who had symptoms suggesting heart disease. Women aged 56 and men aged 47 have an equal risk of having a heart attack. Half the case studies included reports that the patient had recently had a stressful experience or felt anxious. The other half of the case studies just described symptoms.

In the case studies that just concentrated on symptoms, the doctors were equally likely, whether that patient was male or female, to suspect heart disease, refer the patient to a heart specialist, or to prescribe medicine to help protect against a heart attack. But in case studies that included details of the patient’s stressful experience or anxiety, doctors reacted differently depending on the patient’s gender.

If the doctor was told that the woman had been stressed and seemed anxious, they were much less likely to diagnose her with heart disease, less likely to send her to a specialist, and less likely to give her heart medicine. However, knowing that a man was anxious or stressed didn’t make any difference to the diagnosis of heart disease.

The doctors thought that women’s symptoms of chest pain, difficulty breathing and an irregular heartbeat were more likely to be signs of stress than of heart disease. But they didn’t interpret the men’s symptoms in this way. The results were the same for men and women doctors.
Where does the study come from?

The study was carried out by researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University in New York, USA. The results were presented at a medical conference, the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics scientific symposium. They haven’t been published in a medical journal, so we haven’t been able to look closely at the results.
What does this mean for me?

It’s important not to dismiss symptoms like chest pain or breathlessness. They can be signs of heart disease, for women as well as men. Stress can cause physical symptoms, but it’s important that doctors check for physical causes, rather than dismissing symptoms as the result of stress.
What should I do now?

If you’ve had symptoms like chest pain, irregular heartbeat or shortness of breath, it’s important to go to the doctor. If you’re not happy with their response, you can ask for a second opinion.
From:

Chiaramonte GR, Friend R, Jaffe A, et al. Gender Bias in the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Interpretation of CHD Symptoms: Two Experimental Studies with Internists and Family Physicians. Presented at the 20th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics scientific symposium, Washington, October 12 2008.

To find out more about the symptoms of a heart attack, see our information on heart attack.

© BMJ Publishing Group Limited (“BMJ Group”) 2009

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve To Have A Healthy Heart” Newletter!

P.S. For more information about Vita Che which is Roto Rooter for your arteries, visit my online nutrition store at http://699456.shopvitamark.com

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Posted in women's heart problems | 5 Comments »

Women’s Women’s Heart Attack-How to Act Now to Live Longer

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Can you reverse and even prevent having a heart attack? The answer is yes, with positive actions and lifelong habits that will keep you healthy. The following list of important lifestyle habits will show you many factors that will keep your heart healthy and working fine.

One of the most important ways to prevent heart disease is to get moving. Exercise lowers inflammation, helps to take off weight and redistribute weight, and also reduces the feeling of stress. If you cannot do a full out 90 minutes at one time, spread the exercise out over seven days, and make the commitment to do this every week. Studies have found that exercise does not have to be done all at one time to be beneficial. The key is to have the regular exercise and not to miss working out in a manner that makes you feel good. This could be aerobic, such as tennis or basketball or it could be weight lifting or house cleaning. You can even vary the exercise week by week and keep your weekly exercise fun.

Controlling blood pressure is another important issue to many Americans. A high blood pressure will make your heart work harder and can create a major risk factor in having a heart attack if not controlled. Have your doctor check your blood pressure with each visit and also make sure that his recommendations are followed. He may recommend exercise, a prescription, or other general health ideas because he knows your whole health outlook. Listen to his thoughts and take action as blood pressure is very important to your overall heart health.

An often overlooked way to control your risk of a heart attack is as simple as staying calm. A person who is constantly worrying about things they cannot control is a person who has a chance of developing heart disease. You can lower stress in many ways, find the right way for you. Maybe it’s a walk in a garden, writing in a journal, or listening to music that you like. Whatever it is, try to end each day with a calming activity. When feeling nervous practice thinking calming thoughts and reducing stress.

Diet can also contribute to heart disease. We all know to limit fat in our diet and to get our cholesterol checked regularly. You want the good, or HDL, levels to be high and the bad, or LDL, to be low. Reducing Trans fats and hydrogenated oils will get the cholesterol levels that are recommended by your doctor.

Reading a food label becomes important to overall health and especially to preventing heart disease. Eat low in fat and cholesterol. Every label in the grocery store is written for a person on a 2,000 calorie a day diet. Adjust your daily intake to meet your nutrition goals. You will want to keep fat to 20-30% of your daily calories and carbohydrates to about 130 per day. It is important to eat whole grains as they not only prevent heart disease but help in maintaining and preventing diabetes. Keeping salt or sodium content within a normal range of about 2,000 mg a day will help a great deal to prevent heart and stroke problems.

Overall, there is no reason not to take simple steps to maintain your heart and general health. Some of these recommendations are simple to incorporate into your daily living and most can become a habit very easily. Remember, no one else cares as much about your body as you should. It is the only one you have and it is your decisions that will influence the quality of your life now and in the future.

Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve to Have A Healthy Heart” newsletter.

To Your Success,
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
SKype: Monique371
mentormonique@gmail.comR

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Posted in Womens Heart Attack | 1 Comment »

Women and Heart Disease-Some FAQ

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Those women who are concerned about their potential for developing heart disease usually have many questions. I recently found a site that answers many questions about women and heart disease.

Below are a few concerns many women usually have. You can visit http://www.womenshealth.gov for even more information.

Do women need to worry about heart disease?

Yes. Among all U.S. women who die each year, one in four dies of heart disease. In 2004, nearly 60 percent more women died of cardiovascular disease (both heart disease and stroke) than from all cancers combined. The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease. But women of all ages should be concerned about heart disease. All women should take steps to prevent heart disease.

Both men and women have heart attacks, but more women who have heart attacks die from them. Treatments can limit heart damage but they must be given as soon as possible after a heart attack starts. Ideally, treatment should start within one hour of the first symptoms.

If you think you’re having a heart attack, call 911 right away. Tell the operator your symptoms and that you think you’re having a heart attack.

Do women of color need to worry about heart disease?

Yes. African American and Hispanic American/Latina women should be concerned about getting heart disease because they tend to have more risk factors than white women. These risk factors include obesity, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. If you’re a woman of color, take steps to reduce your risk factors.

What does high blood pressure have to do with heart disease?

Blood pressure is the force your blood makes against the walls of your arteries. The pressure is highest when your heart pumps blood into your arteries – when it beats. It is lowest between heart beats, when your heart relaxes. A doctor or nurse will write down your blood pressure as the higher number over the lower number. For instance, you could have a blood pressure of 110/70 (read as “110 over 70″). A blood pressure reading below 120/80 is usually considered normal. Very low blood pressure (lower than 90/60) can sometimes be a cause of concern and should be checked out by a doctor.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a blood pressure reading of 140/90 or higher. Years of high blood pressure can damage artery walls, causing them to become stiff and narrow. This includes the arteries carrying blood to the heart. As a result, your heart cannot get the blood it needs to work well. This can cause a heart attack.

A blood pressure reading of 120/80 to 139/89 is considered prehypertension. This means that you don’t have high blood pressure now but are likely to develop it in the future.

How can I lower my blood pressure?

If you have hypertension or prehypertension, you may be able to lower your
blood pressure by:

* losing weight if you are overweight or obese
* getting at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity or 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
* limiting alcohol to one drink per day
* quitting smoking if you smoke
* reducing stress
* following the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Eating Plan, which includes cutting down on salt and sodium and eating healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products

If lifestyle changes do not lower your blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe medicine.

Remember to visit http://www.womenshealth.gov/ the site where all this information came from.

To Your Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve To Have A Healthy Heart” Newletter!

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Posted in heart disease and women | 8 Comments »

Heart attack symptoms women- Statistics Don’t Lie

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Heart attack symptoms women, and the number of women who have heart disease is very problematic. It is very important for women to get educated and then take the right steps if they believe they are at risk.

Here is what the stats say about this dangerous disease and what you can do about.

Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
Skype: Monique371

Women and Heart Disease – Statistics Don’t Lie
By Barb Hicks

The statistics for heart disease in women are astounding. Women comprise 60% of all heart attack related deaths in the US every year, and are more likely to die from heart disease than men. Women tend to ignore the early warning signs of impending heart attacks because the symptoms are often vague and can resemble other conditions. Consequently, women are apt to delay getting treatment for their symptoms because they do not recognize the signs and do not understand their risks.

While risk factors remain the same for both men and women, compelling evidence suggests that women respond differently than men due to preconceived notions about heart disease, and do not seek treatment as early as they should. Women tend to be older with higher incidence of hypertension, higher cholesterol and blood sugar levels, but are less likely to be smokers. Women view heart disease as primarily a disease of men and never consider that their symptoms could be heart disease related. This could have dire repercussions should a heart attack ensue.

Women suffering heart attacks are more likely to experience shoulder and abdominal pain, as well as nausea, shortness of breath, and fatigue. These are symptoms that women generally do not associate with having a heart attack. They tend to blame their symptoms on something else entirely, denying themselves an opportunity to survive what could be a devastating heart attack event. The longer it takes to get treatment, the more likely hood of sustaining greater damage to the heart muscle itself.

Women who have had a heart attack report having symptoms in the weeks leading up to a heart attack, but never recognize its relationship to heart disease, putting themselves at risk for a second attack within five years after the first one.

It is curious to note that after arriving at the hospital emergency room, women may be confronted with a delay in validating that a heart attack has actually occurred. EKG testing has been found not to be consistent with what is considered to be classic symptoms of an attack on the heart, therefore, women are less likely to be admitted to the cardiac unit. In addition to this, women are less likely to receive life-saving thrombolytic medication as quickly as do men, thus statistically, women have a higher morality rate for heart attacks than men.

Barb Hicks is a featured health writer on Clivir.com – The Free Learning Community Site. She provides more information on Women Heart Disease and Hidden Heart Attack Signs in Women on Clivir.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barb_Hicks

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Posted in Female Heart Attack Symptoms | 12 Comments »

Heart Disease and Women: Tips on How to Lower Your Risks

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Heart disease and women suffering from it is a serious health problem today. However, as we have learned in a previous post, there are things we as women can do to reduce the risk of developing this serious disease.

As reported previously, there are nine activities women can do to lower their risk of heart disease. They were:

We talked some about what steps you can take to lower your cholesterol. Today, we can briefly cover how to lower your blood pressure. How? By doing this according to Go for Red for Women. Their site is http://www.goredforwomen.org/understand_your_risks.aspx

Reduce High Blood Pressure!
High blood pressure (or hypertension) makes the heart work harder than normal. This makes both the heart and arteries more prone to injury. High blood pressure raises the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, eye damage, heart failure and atherosclerosis (fatty buildups in the arteries).

As a woman, you have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure if you are 20 pounds or more over a healthy weight (for your height and build), have a family history of high blood pressure, or have reached the age of menopause. More than 73% of women ages 65 to 74 have high blood pressure.

What’s more, your risk of developing high blood pressure increases during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. If not treated, high blood pressure during pregnancy can endanger you and your baby. On the other hand, if you’re taking oral contraceptives, talk to your healthcare provider to evaluate the risks and benefits.

The lesson is to make sure you never develop high blood pressure. This in turn can reduce your risk of heart disease. The problem of heart disease and women  doesn’t have to be yours!

Monique Hawkins

540-858-2885 anytime

Skype: Moniqu371

mentormonique@gmail.com

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Heart disease and women : You Deserve To Have A Healthy Heart

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

There are many reports that show that women are just as susceptible as to heart disease as men.  As Goforred.com states at

http://www.goredforwomen.org/understand_your_risks.aspx:

“Your heart is in your hands. Heart disease and stroke are largely preventable if you work to lower your risks. It’s important to know that there are a range of factors that can raise your risk of heart disease and stroke. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing heart disease and having a heart attack or stroke.”

Knowing this, it is important to discover what the risks you can control as a woman. If you know what to do to reduce your risk for heart disease, you can reduce the risk of your developing the disease.

Risk Factors You Can Control or Treat

These risk factors can be controlled or treated with help from your healthcare professional. You can modify others by changing your lifestyle.

Here are some ways you can lower your cholesterol. In the upcoming posts, more detail will be given for each of the other factors you can control to prevent heart disease.
Lower Your Cholesterol!
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in the blood and in all the body’s cells. A high cholesterol level is bad because cholesterol can build up with other substances in the inner walls of arteries. This buildup, called plaque, can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow. Plaques that rupture can cause blood clots that can totally block blood flow in the artery. Clots also can break off and travel to another part of the body. If a clot blocks an artery that feeds the heart, it causes a heart attack. If it blocks an artery that feeds the brain, it causes a stroke.High blood cholesterol has no symptoms, and many people have it without knowing it. Find out what your cholesterol levels are, so you can lower them if you need to. If you need to lower your LDL (or “bad” cholesterol), work with your doctor to create a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and an exercise plan.

If you’re overweight, work with your doctor to create a diet and exercise plan to help you lose the extra pounds. Diet and increased physical activity are important, but they may not get you to your goal. If these efforts don’t succeed, your doctor may also prescribe medication. Even if you need to take cholesterol-lowering drugs, a healthy diet and increased physical activity are still important.

Yes, heart disease and women is a serious issue. However, if  you take the necessary steps, you can dramatically reduce your risk to heart disease. After all, you deserve to have a healthy heart!

Until the next post,

Monique Hawkins

540-858-2885

Skype: Monique371

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