February is Women’s Heart Health Awareness Month. This is the 20th year for the campaign and the 5 th year for the Red dress promotion to increase awareness of heart disease in women. This is particularly important during menopause because this time marks an increased risk for heart disease. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women. Each year, heart attacks kill six times more women than breast cancer. The good news is that risk can be controlled and heart disease can be prevented. This is what you need to know.
KNOW YOUR RISK FACTORS. Risk factors include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, being over 55 years old, family history.
KNOW YOUR NUMBERS. Optimals are: BP<120/80. Total cholesterol <200. LDL<130. HDL>50. Triglycerides <150. Fasting glucose <100. Body mass Index (BMI) <25. waist circumference <35 inches. Consult your health care provider to discuss evaluation and management. For more information and a BMI calculator go to www.henryford.com/knowyournumbers
KNOW HOW TO REDUCE RISK. Exercise and eat right. Exercise and eat right. Exercise and eat right. A normal weight and regular activity can, in many cases, prevent risk factors of diabetes and high blood pressure. Get treatment for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Medications are effective and will prevent heart attack.
KNOW HEART ATTACK WARNING SIGNS.
. Chest discomfort
· Usually in the center of the chest
· Lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
· Can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain
· Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
· Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
· Other symptoms, such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness
KNOW WHAT TO DO. If you have symptoms do not delay. Go to emergency room. Dissolve an asprin under your tongue if you have one. Women are more likely to delay treatment and more likely to die of a heart attack than men. They are less likely to be treated accurately for heart disease than men. Less likely to be given medications like beta blockers, statins and ACE inhibitors which can be crutial in preventing advancement of heart disease. So know your stuff, ladies.
To learn more go to www.womenheart.org. If you live in the Detroit Metro area check out our Menopause Support Circles this month. Our topic is Heart Health. We are having speakers from our cardiovascular institute on several dates and locations.
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