Myth: Heart disease is only a threat to men.
Fact: Heart disease actually strikes more men than women, and is more deadly to women than all forms of cancer combined. Heart disease claims the lives of one in three American women each year.
Myth: Heart disease only affects old people or people who are out of shape.
Fact: Even if you are young, thin and a gym rat, you may still be at risk for heart disease. Heart disease affects women of all ages, though the risks do increase with age. Even if you run marathons, other factors such as high cholesterol, bad eating habits and smoking may counteract your healthy habits. The American Heart Association recommends getting your cholesterol checked starting at age 20, or even earlier if your family has a history of heart disease.
Myth: I’m fine because I don’t have any symptoms.
Fact: Over sixty percent of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms. Because symptoms differ between men and women, they’re often misunderstood. TV shows and movies have taught us that the sign of a heart attack is extreme chest pain. This is not always true, especially for women. Women are more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. Other symptoms you should look out for are dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen and extreme fatigue. If you experience any of these, seek medical attention immediately.
Myth: Heart disease runs in my family, so there’s nothing I can do about it.
Fact: Although women with a family history of heart disease are at higher risk, there’s plenty they can do to dramatically reduce it. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can keep your heart healthy. Most importantly, women need to be proactive, know their numbers (blood pressure, BMI, blood sugar and cholesterol) and keep them in a healthy range.
Myth: There are many risk factors for heart disease that can’t be changed.
Fact: While some risk factors aren’t modifiable, like age, sex and family history, the majority can be. Lifestyle changes that include quitting smoking, eating better, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising can go a long way to preventing heart disease in women. In fact, more than 670,000 women have been saved from heart disease by making healthy lifestyle changes and being aware of the symptoms.
As you can see, there are many things you can do to help lower your risk of heart disease. One of the best ways to prevent heart disease is to visit your doctor—regular checkups can help catch any problems early.
You can learn more about heart disease and how to prevent it at www.goredforwomen.org