Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women over the age of 25?  According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease kills nearly twice as many women in the United States than all types of cancer, including breast cancer.  This threat to all women’s health can be identified by specific symptoms if we pay attention.

For women, early warning signs include nausea, an overwhelming fatigue, and dizziness.  Sometimes these things can be chalked up to stress but keep tabs on them and mention them to your doctor. The AMA did a recent study that tagged unusual fatigue, trouble sleeping, shortness of breath, indigestion, and anxiety as the top five symptoms that were reported by both black and white women.  However, black women had more intense episodes of these symptoms and reported them more often.  Assess the trouble, but don’t forget to take action.

If you are healthy it is still good to know if you’re doing the right things to avoid getting to the symptom stages.  If you don’t already have a healthy lifestyle, make changes to prevent a heart attack. The AMA suggests the following guidelines:

- Do not smoke or use tobacco.

- Exercise to maintain a healthy weight. Women who need to lose or keep off weight should get at least 60 - 90 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days. To maintain your weight, get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, preferably at least 5 days a week.

- Eat a heart healthy diet including a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, fish, legumes, and sources of protein low in saturated fat.

- Watch your weight. Women should strive for a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9 and a waist smaller than 35 inches.  Click on this link to find out your body mass index:
       www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

- Get checked and treatment, if necessary, for depression.

- High-risk women should consult a doctor about taking Omega-3 fatty acids and other supplements.

- Be aware of your cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
 
Commit to preventing heart disease and know the warning signs.  If you think you’re having a heart attack always call 911 within 5 minutes of the onset of symptoms. By acting quickly, a heart attack victim is less likely to experience cardiac arrest (where the heart stops beating).

Posted under Health