Men and women not equal when it comes to heart disease
On Tuesday, Feb. 15, the American Heart Association released new guidelines for preventing heart disease in women. Within those guidelines, certain risk factors that are especially important or unique to women were identified. In addition to pointing out new risk factors, the guidelines also clarified some preventive measures that may not be as useful as once thought.
The new guidelines now say there is no reason for women to take supplemental doses of antioxidants such as vitamin C, E or B to prevent heart disease. The vitamins may be helpful in other areas, but they are no longer considered preventive for heart disease in women. The report also showed that low-dose aspirin is not appropriate for women younger than 65, however, aspirin can help prevent strokes in women older than 65.
When it comes to heart disease, women are at just as much a risk as men, although in past years, this was not the consensus. Local physician, Dr. Eric Miller, of East Holmes Family Care, said most people think breast cancer is the biggest killer of women, but that is not the case at all. Miller wants women to know the signs and risks when it comes to spotting a problem with their heart.
“What is the biggest killer of American women?” Miller asked. “Breast cancer, right? Not even close. Heart attacks far outweigh the dreaded breast cancer in death in women. This simple fact is probably the most important thing for women to remember about heart attacks. Furthermore, heart attacks are often more tricky in women and more deadly. Although many women do get the classic crushing chest pain of a heart attack, women more frequently get atypical symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, sweating, fatigue, or pain in the jaw or shoulder.”
One good thing women have going for them, where heart disease is concerned, is the hormone estrogen. According to Miller, this hormone acts as a protecting agent of sorts and does play a positive role in heart health.
“The good news is that women are protected somewhat by estrogen, so women are less likely than men to have a heart attack at a young age,” Miller explained. “However, young women still do get heart attacks and, as soon as menopause hits, women very rapidly catch up to men in their risk of heart attacks.”
One challenge for women is that their heart disease symptoms can be different from symptoms in men. The most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women is some type of pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest. But it’s not always severe or even the most prominent symptom, particularly in women. Women are more likely than men to have signs and symptoms unrelated to chest pain, such as neck, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, sweating, light-headedness or dizziness, or unusual fatigue.
These signs and symptoms are more subtle than the obvious crushing chest pain often associated with heart attacks. This may be because women tend to have blockages not only in their main arteries, but also in the smaller arteries that supply blood to the heart — a condition called small vessel heart disease.
The American Heart Association’s new recommendations emphasize the importance of women attempting to control the more traditional risk factors, such as their blood pressure, cholesterol levels and excess weight. There are other factors as well that may impact women’s heart health, including gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Also, women that have a history of certain autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus may be at a higher risk.
Miller believes that women need to take control and do everything they can to protect themselves from heart disease and improve their overall heart health.
“You cannot control your genes or your age, but what you can control is your lifestyle,” Miller said. “So, like so many other things for your health, it comes down to eating right, exercising, and keeping the weight off. You should also make sure your blood pressure and cholesterol are in order.”
As far as screenings and testing goes, at this time, there are no recommendations for heart screenings outside of routine blood pressure and cholesterol testing.
“The only heart-related test that we recommend for screening is an abdominal ultrasound in men aged 65-75 who have ever smoked, to rule out an abdominal aortic aneurysm,” Miller added. “Of course we always recommend women to have their annual mammograms because breast cancer is dangerous, but we really want women to not lose sight of the fact that heart disease is even a greater killer in American women than breast cancer. Know your blood pressure number, your cholesterol levels, exercise and eat healthy, take care of your heart, so it can take care of you.”
If experiencing any symptoms or signs, see a doctor, go to an emergency room and check it out. It’s better to come home knowing everything is OK, than to risk a serious problem.
The new guidelines now say there is no reason for women to take supplemental doses of antioxidants such as vitamin C, E or B to prevent heart disease. The vitamins may be helpful in other areas, but they are no longer considered preventive for heart disease in women. The report also showed that low-dose aspirin is not appropriate for women younger than 65, however, aspirin can help prevent strokes in women older than 65.
When it comes to heart disease, women are at just as much a risk as men, although in past years, this was not the consensus. Local physician, Dr. Eric Miller, of East Holmes Family Care, said most people think breast cancer is the biggest killer of women, but that is not the case at all. Miller wants women to know the signs and risks when it comes to spotting a problem with their heart.
“What is the biggest killer of American women?” Miller asked. “Breast cancer, right? Not even close. Heart attacks far outweigh the dreaded breast cancer in death in women. This simple fact is probably the most important thing for women to remember about heart attacks. Furthermore, heart attacks are often more tricky in women and more deadly. Although many women do get the classic crushing chest pain of a heart attack, women more frequently get atypical symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, sweating, fatigue, or pain in the jaw or shoulder.”
One good thing women have going for them, where heart disease is concerned, is the hormone estrogen. According to Miller, this hormone acts as a protecting agent of sorts and does play a positive role in heart health.
“The good news is that women are protected somewhat by estrogen, so women are less likely than men to have a heart attack at a young age,” Miller explained. “However, young women still do get heart attacks and, as soon as menopause hits, women very rapidly catch up to men in their risk of heart attacks.”
One challenge for women is that their heart disease symptoms can be different from symptoms in men. The most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women is some type of pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest. But it’s not always severe or even the most prominent symptom, particularly in women. Women are more likely than men to have signs and symptoms unrelated to chest pain, such as neck, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, sweating, light-headedness or dizziness, or unusual fatigue.
These signs and symptoms are more subtle than the obvious crushing chest pain often associated with heart attacks. This may be because women tend to have blockages not only in their main arteries, but also in the smaller arteries that supply blood to the heart — a condition called small vessel heart disease.
The American Heart Association’s new recommendations emphasize the importance of women attempting to control the more traditional risk factors, such as their blood pressure, cholesterol levels and excess weight. There are other factors as well that may impact women’s heart health, including gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Also, women that have a history of certain autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus may be at a higher risk.
Miller believes that women need to take control and do everything they can to protect themselves from heart disease and improve their overall heart health.
“You cannot control your genes or your age, but what you can control is your lifestyle,” Miller said. “So, like so many other things for your health, it comes down to eating right, exercising, and keeping the weight off. You should also make sure your blood pressure and cholesterol are in order.”
As far as screenings and testing goes, at this time, there are no recommendations for heart screenings outside of routine blood pressure and cholesterol testing.
“The only heart-related test that we recommend for screening is an abdominal ultrasound in men aged 65-75 who have ever smoked, to rule out an abdominal aortic aneurysm,” Miller added. “Of course we always recommend women to have their annual mammograms because breast cancer is dangerous, but we really want women to not lose sight of the fact that heart disease is even a greater killer in American women than breast cancer. Know your blood pressure number, your cholesterol levels, exercise and eat healthy, take care of your heart, so it can take care of you.”
If experiencing any symptoms or signs, see a doctor, go to an emergency room and check it out. It’s better to come home knowing everything is OK, than to risk a serious problem.
Published: February 21, 2011
