Attention! More women die of heart disease than of breast cancer, cervical cancer, or any other cancer.

You can reduce your risk by eating a heart healthy diet, having regular screening for diabetes and cholesterol levels, blood pressure monitoring, regular exercise and by avoiding smoking.

Here is how you can reduce your risk of heart disease according to the CDC:

To lower your chances it’s important to do the following:

• Know your blood pressure. Having uncontrolled blood pressure can lead to heart disease. High blood pressure has no symptoms, so it’s important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Learn more about high blood pressure.
• Talk to your doctor or health care team about whether you should be tested for diabetes. Having uncontrolled diabetes raises your risk of heart disease.⁸ Learn more about diabetes.
• Quit smoking. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, learn ways to quit.
• Discuss checking your blood cholesterol and triglycerides with your doctor. Learn more about cholesterol.
• Make healthy food choicesexternal icon. Having overweight or obesity raises your risk of heart disease. Learn more about overweight and obesity.
• Limit how much alcohol you drink to one drink a day. Learn more about alcohol.
• Manage stress levels by finding healthy ways to cope with stress. Learn more about coping with stress.

Heart disease symptoms according to the CDC:

Although some women have no symptoms, others may have

• Angina (dull and heavy or sharp chest pain or discomfort)
• Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat
• Pain in the upper abdomen or back

These symptoms may happen when you are resting or when you are doing regular daily activities. Women also may have other symptoms, including

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue

Sometimes heart disease may be “silent” and not diagnosed until you have other symptoms or emergencies, including

• Heart attack: Chest pain or discomfort, upper back or neck pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, upper body discomfort, dizziness, and shortness of breath
• Arrhythmia: Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations)
• Heart failure: Shortness of breath, fatigue, or swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, abdomen, or neck veins

If you have any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 right away.

If you have any questions regarding heart disease or to get an appointment to get checked please feel free to call our office (801) 507-1950.

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