Women more at risk for heart disease
From John Chiasson, BSc, MD: Doctors Nova Scotia
Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death in women. Every year, seven times more Canadian women die of these two diseases than breast cancer.
Most Canadian women have at least one risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and most don’t know it. Women who have diabetes, come from certain ethnic backgrounds or are menopausal are even more at risk.
Doctors want all women to know about their risk factors and recognize the warning signs for heart disease and stroke so that you can prevent and manage them. While most of the risk factors and signs are the same in women as they are in men, there are unique aspects to women's heart health that you should know.
Angina (chest pains) is the most common signal of heart disease experienced by women. More women will have angina as their first sign of heart disease than an actual heart attack. Symptoms associated with angina include vague chest discomfort, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, back and neck pain and burning indigestion.
The good news is that women can prevent and reduce their risk of heart disease by not smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, being physically active, eating a healthy diet that’s low in fat and high in fibre, and using medications to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke as prescribed by your doctor. Doctors also encourage women to understand the role of estrogen, birth control pills, pregnancy, menopause, cholesterol, and triglycerides in your heart health.
February is Heart Month and you have 29 days to take action. Visit your family doctor to assess your risk for heart disease. Your doctor can help get you started on the path to a healthy heart. To learn more about heart disease and stroke, visit www.heartandstroke.ns.ca.
