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Heart disease shows itself differently in women
By Val D. Christensen
February is the month associated with Valentines Day. Men and women of all ages celebrate their love of each other with heart-shaped gifts, cards and other tokens to express that love. So perhaps a reminder of the value of a healthy heart, particularly for women, is especially appropriate during this month.
The facts about heart disease in women are disheartening!
We all know that women and men are very different from one another. However, thereÕs an important health factor that both men and women share Š heart disease. As the leading killer of men, heart disease is also the No. 1 killer of American women. Nearly 500,000 women will die this year from cardiovascular disease. Women are at a disadvantage for early detection of heart disease because the presentation is much different than the symptoms in men.
What are the symptoms for women?
„ Fatigue, a general feeling of weakness and or lack of energy.
„ Nausea and or indigestion-like symptoms.
„ Difficulty breathing that occurs with or without exertion. Waking at night feeling like you canÕt breathe.
„ A tightness, pressure or squeezing sensation in the chest, throat or neck that may radiate into the left arm causing numbness or tingling.
If you experience any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor since there may be another explanation for these symptoms.
Reduce your risk of heart disease
Risk factors are those personal lifestyle habits that can contribute to the likelihood for developing heart disease. Some of these factors can be changed (smoking, obesity and physical activity), some can be controlled with medication and/or diet (hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol), and others canÕt be changed (age, ethnicity and family history).
You can reduce your risk of heart disease by taking care of or eliminating the risk factors you can control. Talk to your doctor about starting an exercise program, quitting smoking and losing weight.
Diagnostic testing
Diagnostic testing is a very important part at helping determine your heart health. Physicians today have many sophisticated tests to help determine the extent of coronary artery disease. Among these tests is cardiac scoring.
Cardiac scoring is a non-invasive CAT scan testing procedure, or CT, that can reveal abnormal amounts of calcium in the arteries feeding the heart, which can lead to sudden death from heart attack. Cardiac scoring is fast, painless and can provide valuable information regarding the health of the arteries.
The encouraging news is that today physicians are getting better and better at diagnosing heart disease without high-risk, invasive procedures. The use of CT and MRI, as well as the nuclear cardiology gold standard of positron emission tomography, or PET, are among the leading edge diagnostic tools available today. Studies such as cardiac catheterization, cardiac stress tests and electrocardiograms are vitally important diagnostic tools to further aid physicians in the assessment of heart health.
Finally, one very important tool to help you receive the best heart health care is communication! ItÕs your health; itÕs your life. You have a right to have the information you need to take an active role in your health care. Ask questions until you are confident you have the information you need to make informed decisions regarding your health.
Since February is heart health month, encourage your loved one to talk to the doctor about heart health.
To learn more about your heart health visit www.Americanheart.org or www.adifferntheart.com, a site specifically for womenÕs heart health.
Val D. Christensen, M.D., is a member of the Radiological Society of North America as well as the American Roentgen Ray Society and is board certified in radiology and family practice.
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