Heart Infection and Heart Attacks: What Women Need to Know -- familydoctor.org

What do I demand to be learned about feelings affliction and love attacks? What can I determine to protect myself? Testament pharmaceutical lower my hazard of heart disease and heart attacks? Can estrogen replacement treatment reduce my risk for affection disease? See Also: What Women Entail to Know Are women at risk? Women are at risk championing passion disease and emotions attacks, dispassionate according to men. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women atop of 65.

American women are 4 to 6 times added credible to die of heart disease than of breast cancer. Heart disease kills amassed women above 65 than all cancers combined. Women develop heart problems later in life than men -- typically 7 or 8 years later. However, by about age 65, a woman's peril is almost the same as a man's. Return to peak What do I need to know approximately heart disease and heart attacks?

Women are less viable to survive heart attacks than men. No one knows why. It may be that women don't search for or catch handling of as soon as men. Or it may be because women's smaller hearts and blood vessels are else simply damaged. Gp are working on find answers to these questions. There's no question, however, that it makes belief to prevent heart problems beforehand they start.

Return to head What can I do to protect myself? For both men and women, the biggest factors that contribute to heart disease are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history and age. Take a moment to look at your lifestyle, family history and your general health. With this information, you and your family doctor can assess your danger and fabricate a big picture to avoid embryonic problems.

Don"t smoke. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease in women. More than half of the heart attacks in women under 50 are associated to smoking. If you stop smoking, you can lower your gamble of heart attack beside one third within 2 years. Women who smoke and use delivery control pilule increase their jeopardy even more. There are a variety of products to help you abdicate smoking.

You may wish to try using nicotine skin patches or nicotine gum: There are also prescription medicines available that can help you stop smoking. Talk to your doctor about the best way representing you to quit smoking. Breathing smoke from someone else's cigarettes is also bad for your heart and lungs.

If you aware with someone who smokes, encourage him or her to quit. Control your blood pressure. Treating high blood pressure can lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. Losing weight, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet are all ways to help clout high-reaching blood pressure. Reducing how much flavour you consume can again help.

Whether these steps don't drop your blood pressure, your doctor may reccomend medicine for you to take. Control your cholesterol level. If you don't be acquainted your level, ask your doctor to check it. Food is a key part of lowering high cholesterol levels. However, some people may need to take medicine in addition to fare and exercise. Maintain a fine fettle weight. Extra dialect heft set strain on your heart and arteries.

Exercise and a low-fat diet can help you lose weight. Being overweight plan you have a higher risk for many other constitution problems, mainly diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. If you're overweight, talk to your doctor about a safe and effective way to lose weight. Manipulate regularly.

Remember, your heart is a muscle. It needs regular exercise to continue in shape. Aerobic exercise, such as speedy walking, swimming, jogging or biking, pass over your heart the bad workout. You can also use fitness accoutrement like apply bicycles, treadmills and ski machines when exercising indoors.

Finding an exercise partner may make it easier and safer for you to exercise often. You should exercise at least 30 to 60 minutes, 4 to 6 times a week. Say to your doctor before starting an exercise program. Eat a low-fat diet. Break is ready to help you make healthy choices. For example, food labels list nutrition information, including overweight calories, many cookbooks have heart-healthy recipes, and some restaurants serve low-fat dishes.

Obtain care of diabetes. If you have diabetes, regular exercise, weight control, a low-fat nutriment and regular physician visits are important. If you need to catch medicine for diabetes, be sure to take it exactly as your doctor tells you to. Be aware of chest pain. Be definite to junction your doctor straightaway if you suffer from pain in your chest, shoulder, neck or jaw. Also notify your doctor if you experience shortness of breath or nausea that comes on quickly.

If you are having a heart attack, the faster you can get to the hospital, the less damage will develop to your heart. Every moment counts. Discriminate your family history. Having a father or brother with heart disease before age 55, or a mum or sister with heart illness already lifetime 65, are part that contribute to heart disease. Tell your doctor about your family history.

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