2-10-09

Women’s Heart Health

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death of women of all ages.  It kills about one-half million women each year in the U.S.

One in every three American women dies of heart disease.  The disease in women may not be easily recognized because some women have different symptoms for heart attack than men, says Dr. Susan Hingle, associate professor of internal medicine at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.  She describes some of the symptoms:

SOUND BITE: “They may just have a sense of shortness of breathe.  They may all of a sudden have fatigue that they can’t explain otherwise.  They may have exercise intolerance, meaning they used to be able to walk five blocks before getting short of breath.  And now they can walk only one block before getting short of breath.” 

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 explains some risk factors for heart disease.

SOUND BITE:  TR 1 (3:28 – 3:49)   “Women as they become menopausal, become more likely to have heart disease.  And the age we look at is around 55.  Women who have high blood pressures, women who have high cholesterol and women who have diabetes are all at risk for heart disease.  And the more of those conditions you have the much greater your risk gets with each additional risk factor.”

Dr. Hingle says there are a number of newer treatments for heart disease, which can help minimize the condition.  She also says awareness of risk factors is very important in preventing heart disease.  Women can lessen their risk of heart disease by quitting smoking, eating the right foods and getting a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise 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.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.