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Women’s Heart Health

Heart disease is a major cause of death of women of all ages. It kills about 365,000 women each year.

About 8 million women suffer from heart disease in the United States. The disease in women may not be easily recognized because some women have different symptoms for heart attack than men, says Dr. Susan Hingle, assistant professor of internal medicine at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield. She describes some of the symptoms:

SOUND BITE: “There are some women who do have the typical symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath and palpations. However, there are a lot of women who have unrecognized symptoms. They may present with a decrease in their exercise tolerance. They may present with worsening of some fatigue symptoms. They may have what they consider abdominal pain as opposed to chest pain.”

Women have increased risk of heart disease if they have diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Family history of early heart disease, smoking and being overweight are also risk factors. Dr. Hingle says early detection of risk factors is very important in preventing heart disease.

SOUND BITE: “. . . getting an annual blood pressure check, getting their cholesterol checked every five years, depending on the results. Being screened for diabetes annually, particularly if they have ever had any problems with diabetes in pregnancy or any family history with diabetes.”

Dr. Hingle says women also can lessen their risk of heart disease by quiting smoking and getting a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise on most days. If a woman has symptoms for heart attack, she should see her primary care physician or go to the hospital emergency department as quickly as possible.