{"id":3733,"date":"2019-02-18T15:30:36","date_gmt":"2019-02-18T15:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/?p=3733"},"modified":"2023-03-11T07:51:32","modified_gmt":"2023-03-11T07:51:32","slug":"national-wear-red-day-for-womens-heart-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/national-wear-red-day-for-womens-heart-health\/","title":{"rendered":"National \u2018Wear Red\u2019 Day for Women\u2019s Heart Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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Table of Contents<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

I. Introduction<\/strong><\/a>
\n\u2022 Cardiovascular diseases as a major health threat among women
\n\u2022 Statistics on heart disease deaths among women in the US
\n\u2022 The American Heart Association’s ‘Go Red’ initiative
\nII. Heart Disease and Gender Difference<\/strong><\/a>
\n\u2022 Differences between the hearts of men and women
\n\u2022 Importance of gender differences in the treatment and outcomes of coronary artery disease
\nIII. Recognizing the Warning Signs of Heart Disease<\/strong><\/a>
\n\u2022 Symptoms of heart attack among women
\n\u2022 Symptoms of stroke among women
\nIV. How to Prevent Heart Disease<\/strong><\/a>
\n\u2022 The importance of lifestyle habits in preventing heart disease
\n\u2022 Tips for preventing heart disease<\/p>\n

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Cardiovascular diseases continue to be one of the major health threat among women which in 80% of cases, it can be prevented. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span> (CDC), in the United States around 289,758 women in 2013 died of heart disease<\/span>, that\u2019s 1 in every 4 female deaths. The American Heart Association\u2019s initiative on \u2018Go Red\u2019 is focused on providing women\u2019s heart health awareness and to serve as a catalyst to improve the lives of women internationally. This initiative is not just about wearing red, it is about sharing the heart health facts, standing together to making the commitment to take charge of not only their own heart health but also those they love. For interested in making a change, join National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and other organizations around the country by using the stickers, posters and social media resources to promote the awareness in the local community by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Heart Disease and Gender Difference<\/p>\n

Often women tend to associate heart symptoms with the less-life threatening conditions such as acid reflux<\/span> or the flu. Although the heart of a man and a woman may look the same, there are great differences. For instance, the heart of a woman is smaller than a man\u2019s and the wall dividing some of the interior chambers of the heart are thinner. Also, a woman\u2019s heart pumps faster than a man\u2019s but delivering about 10% less blood every time it pumps. This gender difference is important as it plays a role in the treatment and the outcomes of coronary artery<\/span> disease. Also, certain types of diseases that only affect women increase the risk of developing coronary artery disease. This includes polycystic ovary disease<\/span>, endometriosis<\/span>, diabetes<\/span> and high blood pressure<\/span> during pregnancy. One of the interesting factors is that women are usually older when they have their first heart attack compared to much earlier in life among men. This can be attributed to the estrogen<\/span> that offers some protection until after menopause<\/span> when the estrogen level lowers.<\/p>\n

The Coronary artery disease can also be difficult to diagnose among women as it often affects the small arteries which cannot be completely detected on an angiogram. Therefore, women who continue to experience symptoms after a \u2018normal\u2019 angiogram result should consult with a cardiologist who specializes in women with heart problems.<\/p>\n

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Recognizing the Warning Signs of Heart Disease<\/p>\n

It is important to recognize the warning signs of heart disease, to visit a doctor regularly to check the heart health and to learn the family history. In some cases, women may not have any symptoms and the heart disease could be silent and not diagnosed until they experience signs of heart attack, stroke<\/span> or heart failure. Others may experience the symptoms during rest, with physical activity or could be triggered by mental stress<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough men and women can experience chest pressure that feels like an elephant sitting across the chest, women can experience a heart attack without chest pressure,\u201d said Nieca Goldberg, M.D., Medical Director for the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women\u2019s Health at NYC\u2019s Langone Medical Center and an American Heart Association volunteer.\u00a0 \u201cInstead they may experience shortness of breath<\/span>, pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, upper back pressure or extreme fatigue<\/span>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n