Heart Attack is the Number 1 Killer
of Women in America
Did you know that, in the United States, more women die from heart disease than from any other cause, including all types of cancer? Heart disease and stroke — two main cardiovascular diseases — are the first and third leading causes of death for women in the United States. Heart disease and stroke are serious and can lead to disability and a decreased quality of life. Unfortunately, women don't take their risk for heart disease and stroke seriously — or personally. They often fail to make the connection between risk factors, or things that increase the chances of heart disease or stroke, and their own chance of developing heart disease.
Women should learn the heart attack warning signs. These are:
- Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest.
- Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
- Other symptoms, such as a shortness of breath, breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light—headedness.
If you're not aware of the symptoms that women have during a heart attack, you won't be able to act immediately.
Every minute counts, even if the symptoms seem to disappear! Know that not everyone gets all of these warning signs. Sometimes, these signs can go away and return. Treatments are most effective if given within one hour of when the attack begins. If you have these symptoms, call 911 right away!
Are you at risk?
- Are you a woman over 55 years old?
- Do you smoke?
- Is your blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg or higher, OR have you been told by your doctor that your blood pressure is too high?
- Has your doctor told you that your total cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL or higher OR your HDL (good cholesterol) is less than 40mg/dL?
- Has anyone in your family had a heart attack or stroke?
- Do you have diabetes OR gestational diabetes OR a fasting blood sugar of 126mg/dL or higher OR do you need medicine to control your blood sugar?
- Do you have a body mass index (BMI) score of 25 or more? Click here to find out.
- Do you get less than 30 minutes of physical activity on most days?
- Have you had a heart attack, stroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA) before?
Start walking for 30 minutes each day.
Stop smoking.
Stop eating high fat meals.
Start loving yourslef.
Yes, stress in life can take years away from your heart beating that beautiful red, rich liquid nourishing your body. Diets high in fat and empty calories satisfy the moment yet take away minutes of your life. Depression and heart attacks go hand in hand. It becomes a vicious cycle for women and we're the only ones who can change the direction of our health.
Be kind to yourself. Pamper yourelf with healthy food - it can be delcious and fun. Exercise! The endorphans released are a natural high and your cells will love you! Accept what is in your life and stop fighting reality. Our mid life years and beyond can be a wonderful, peaceful, healthy, and enriching. Choose to make this life a grand experience. You have the power!
My intitution tells me that the reason heart attacks are the number one killer of women in America is because we have more broken hearts than men.!
Our hearts break when we see how the media portrays our society. Our hearts break when entertainment is portrayed in explosions, blood, sex and foul dialogue. !
"Reality" - someone's, not mine, is all the rage in hour-time slots in that wasteland called TV. Mllions of dollars are spent sending our children to war, meager amounts are spent on them when they return broken in body mind and spirit. !
Our children's children are shuffled around from activity-to-activity, but haven no sense of "home". We have schools in the United States that are so delapidated that it could be filmed and you'd think it is a third world country. !
Mean, egocentricity fuels nasty emails that do not hide xenophobia - prejudice - kicking victims of hurricanes, immigrants and anyone else that doesn't fit in to "the world we knew". !
Our hearts break when we see our children off to war.!
Broken hearts translate into heart attacks. Until we see that our hearts are breaking and start changing our views on life and our reactions and choices we take, our hearts will continue to break. And women will die instead of speaking up, speaking out and speaking for The Way of It. !
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Carole Cross is a wholistic coach specializing in supporting mid life women gain health, insight, passion and peace in their lives. She lives in the foothills of Colorado with her husband David and her 16-year old Persian kitty Magic.
Carole Cross
Website: Wisewomen - Healthy in Body, Mind & Spirit
info@wisewomen.org
Blog: Hot Flash
Copyright © 2007
