Articles: Women's Health
Articles: Obesity
Women At Risk
Heart disease is NOT just for men! Women do not often think of themselves as "at risk" for heart attacks and strokes. However, ask the women who have had them, and they will tell you BEWARE. The assumption that it will never happen to you is a dangerous one that could end up harming you and your family.
One of the best resources for learning all you can about heart disease and women is www.goredforwomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART.
Go Red is a campaign started by the American Heart Association to educate women that certain actions—both large and small—can protect their heart and put a stop to heart disease. Shockingly, heart disease and stroke are the #1 and #3 killers of all American women over the age of 25.
Each year, these diseases claim the lives of more than half a million women!
What is unique about this campaign is that they appeal to women by using a RED DRESS as their symbol. The color red evokes passion and confidence, and it signals change. Go Red encourages women to WEAR RED on February 6th this year to signify their participation in the campaign. The purpose is to encourage women to take charge of their heart health, because women have the power to change their risk factors. Here's how:
Women face six major risk factors for heart disease that often can be prevented, controlled, or treated:
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol (high LDL, low HDL, high Triglycerides)
Tobacco Smoke
Physical Inactivity
Obesity or overweight
Diabetes
As busy family caretakers, women have a tendency to ignore their own symptoms when it comes to heart attack. And, women's symptoms are very different from men's. Typically, numbness and pain on the left side is a hallmark for men's heart disease. Women may have everything from shortness of breath, vomiting, pain, numbness, and cold sensation in the feet, to neck pain, severe headache, and severe fatigue. Different women experience the severity of these symptoms in different degrees, so don't be fooled!
For stroke, the warning signs include: Walk; is your balance off? Talk; is your speech slurred, face droopy, or a stuck-out tongue that leans right or left? Reach; is one side weaker or numb? See; is vision all or partly lost? Feel; is the headache severe?
Ask your doctor to help you determine your heart and stroke risk! If you are at risk, your doctor can advise you on starting a walking program and a heart-healthy diet. Remember, small changes can result in big improvements in your risk profile! The doctor may advise you on starting supplements, such as Omega-3's, baby aspirin, or Magnesium. Plus, it is important that you know your cholesterol and blood pressure numbers, and monitor them periodically for changes. Don't forget that genetics play a large role in heart disease as well. If someone in your family had heart disease, your odds are increased! Go Red now and know your risk!
This article brought to you buy Medicap Pharmacy. Dedicated to serving the Black Hills community.
