Heart Health

Some of our services include the following:

• Heart Health Facts
• Risk Factors
• Symptoms of a Heart Attack
• Stress and Heart Health

Heart Health Facts

Heart disease is the leading killer of women in the United States.

• It is estimated that almost 1 in 2 women will eventually die of heart disease or stroke.
• The rate of cardiovascular disease is substantially higher in African American women than in Caucasian women.
• 38 % of women die within one year of having a heart attack.

Risk Factors

To determine your specific level of risk of heart disease, talk with your doctor. If you are high risk, you can find out what risk factors you should concentrate on changing.

• Physical Inactivity – Active women who exercise regularly have a 60% to 75% lower risk of heart disease than inactive women.
• Stress – High levels of sustained stress can make you more susceptible to serious disorders such as cardiovascular disease.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

Although men and women share most of the symptoms of heart attack some important ones for women are as follows:

• Atypical chest pain, stomach or abdominal pain
• Nausea or dizziness
• Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, often without chest pain of any kind
• Unexplained anxiety, weakness or fatigue
• Palpitations, cold sweat or paleness

Stress and Heart Health

A person’s response to stress may be a contributing factor to heart disease. If you find yourself feeling tense, or perhaps even angry, you could be experiencing too much stress. Excessive stress can raise your blood pressure and cause you to overeat. Finding ways to relax and learning to set limits can help you control the stress in your life.

• Try to take a few minutes to relax when you feel yourself tensing.
• Meditate, pray or do yoga or tai chi.