Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/236358
BREAKING THE SILENCE ON WOMEN'S HEART DISEASE A heart attack is often portrayed as a dramatic event, with shortness of breath and chest-clutching pain. However, many women might experience a heart attack and never know it. Silent ischemia, or lack of oxygen to the heart, can cause women to feel fatigued, tired, or a sensation similar to a strained muscle in the upper torso. Other symptoms may include: • Cold or flu symptoms • Dizziness • Jaw pain • Lightheadedness • Nausea and vomiting • Stomach pain or indigestion "Women are more likely than men to experience atypical heart attack symptoms," says Michael Barnett, MD, cardiologist at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – Medical Center. "If women experience a combination of these symptoms, they should immediately call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room. It could save their lives." LADIES, LET'S GET REAL Heart disease remains the No. 1 killer of men and women according to the American Heart Association, and yet the American Heart Association says just one in five women actually think heart disease affects them. 4 Women can arm themselves against heart disease by delving into their family health history and discussing it with their primary care physician. Chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, raise the potential of experiencing a cardiac event. Age and race could also raise a woman's risk of experiencing a heart attack in her lifetime. A recent study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation says African-American women are 40 percent more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than Caucasian women. Younger, active women can also face an increased risk if they use birth control pills or smoke cigarettes. "Individual risk factors can vary from woman to woman," says Imam Tjahja, MD, cardiologist at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – Medical Center. "That's why patients should be up-front when discussing their current lifestyle with their physician or a specialist. Then the physician can pinpoint areas for improvement." Concerned about your risk for heart disease? To take our online heart self-assesment, snap this code or visit bit.ly/CSRhearttest. christussantarosa.org