Top 5 Myths That Put Women at Risk - Busted
Posted 02-07-2010 11:50 pm
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February happens to be heart health month. Around 450,000 women suffer heart attacks every year. As a matter of fact, cardiovascular disease is the top killer in the United States. So read on to learn about heart myths and how to prevent yourself from being a victim of heart disease.
 Myth #1 – The pain is in my arm, not my chest, so I have nothing to worry about, right?
Often many times women die from heart attacks because they do not recognize the symptoms until it's too late. Women and men don't have the same symptoms which lead to many healthcare providers missing heart attacks in women. Men's symptoms include: shortness of breath, heaviness in the left side of their chest, sweating and pain down the left arm or up the neck. Occasionally some women do have the same symptoms as men. Most women don't have any pain in the chest at all. Women's symptoms include: jaw, arm, back or stomach pain or an overwhelming feeling of fatigue, along with shortness of breath, they might feel as though they have the flu, nausea and vomiting. Many women experience these symptoms around a month before their heart attack strikes. Women tend to have great instincts about their bodies, so if you know that you are more tired than usual or do not feel like yourself see your doctor as soon as possible. Myth #2 – Do I have to stay away from all fats? A low-fat diet has been so important over the years especially for heart health. Many people hear the word fats and immediately think unhealthy. People don't realize that some fats are actually good for us. Saturated fats and trans fats are bad for our hearts. Saturated fats can be found in meat and full-fat dairy products. Trans fats are man-made and can be found in many snack foods such as: potato chips, cookies, cake, margarine, vegetable shortenings and some fried foods. You should always avoid or limit your intake of saturated and trans fats. So be careful with the amount of red meat you eat and try to avoid margarine, fried foods and snack foods. If you do so, you will help your heart and feel better. Myth #3 – I'm a Type A personality, does that mean I am more prone to having a heart attack? A Type A personality does not mean a higher chance of heart disease. Some factors associated with a Type A personality – high blood pressure, smoking, lack of exercise – are risk factors. Make mental and spiritual health a priority to improve your chances of avoiding a future heart condition. Myth #4 – Is it true that only middle-aged people have heart attacks? Women shouldn't have to begin worrying about heart disease until they reach menopause. Women with diabetes and high blood pressure are at risk for heart disease no matter how old they are. This goes for smokers and overweight women. Women can have heart attacks as young as 20s, 30s, and 40s. A heart attack will not always wait until you are middle-aged so keep up a healthy lifestyle and visit your doctor regularly. Myth #5 – If my weight and cholesterol are normal does this mean I'm not at risk for heart disease? Having a healthy weight and normal cholesterol levels are definitely important for artery health, but not enough to guarantee heart health. Even if your weight and cholesterol are normal, if you have even just one other risk factor, such as family history of heart disease or high blood pressure you are still at risk. So having a healthy weight and normal cholesterol levels will prevent heart disease but you may have other risks that maybe you do not know about yet. So what can I do to lower my risk of heart disease?
• Start exercising regularly.
• Stop smoking now.
• Talk to your doctor about stress reduction and options to control depression.
• Get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis, and ask your doctor to test your blood glucose and total cholesterol levels.
• Discuss hormone replacement therapy after menopause; it should be taken for a short amount of time, and some women shouldn't take it at all.
• Find out if anyone in your family has had a heart attack, or CAD, and tell your doctor. If you know what your risk factors are for heart disease you have the power to keep yourself free of a possible heart attack. Ask a Medical Doctor Online-It's FREE at www.KoolDocs.com Your #1 Source for Online Medical Consultations and Online Prescriptions.
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