Women and Heart Disease By Melo-Dee Collins. MSN MSM. NP-BC Heart Attac STRESS women's hearts are affected by stress and on more than men's hearts SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK Every year heart discass, the singl biggest casse of death in the United States, cluims the lives f as m women as it does men. The classe symptom of a greater risk than men who smoke more inactive than men kk hetpain.o,ptom of a heartthat women ane research shows are mach more likely to have heart attack sympooms unrelated to chestStress-women's hearts are affected pain such as: by stress and depression more than mens hearts Pain in one or both arms Menopause-low levels of estrogen after menopause pose a signficant risk factor for developing heart disease in the smaller blood vessels Nock shoulder, jaw, upper back or abdominal discomfort . Shortness of breath Indgestion or heartburn .Nausea or vomiting .Sweating . Lightheadedness or dizziness . Unusual fatigue . Cancer treatment-certairn chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy, such as those used to treat breast cancer, may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease .Birth control birth control which contains the hormone progesterone. Because theve signs appear less din on the surface, woman might downplay her condition and show up in the emergency room after heart damage has already acan increase blood pressure in some Pregnancy complications-high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy can increase a womans long-term risk of high blood pressure and diabetes major risk factors for heart disease . occurrod- raising risks and huingher cowey RISK FACTORS FOR WOMEN lchough there are several traditional risk ftorsforInflammatory diseases such as heart disease ch as high cholesterol, high Hoo h pressuce and obesity that affect women and men rheumatoid arthritis or lupus-women with these conditions may also have a cqualy, other factos may play a bigger role in thehigher risk of heart disease development of heart disese in women. For example Diabetes-women with dabetes are at greater risk of heart disease than men with diabetes Becoming aware of symptoms and risks can help protect a woman agaimt a majoe candiac event. Listening to the dvice of your healthcare provider and eaking steps alter your diet and lifestyle wil help you live a heart Smoking- women who smoke are at healthy lfe. MOH CARDIOVASCULAR & PULMONARY SERVICES For more information Call 765.660.6036 AND visit www.mgh.net click on Events for a complete schedule of classes Free education offered from 8-9am or 2-3pm each Wednesday PLACE: 330 N. WABASH AVE DIABETES EDUCATION CLASSROOM GROUND FLOOR) MBH heolth -Bt-K e www.mgh.net