Heart Health Month 2017
February 14, 2017 3:44 pm
Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association’s national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women during Heart Health Month in February.
February is American Heart Month
This year, the American Heart Association is focusing on heart disease in women. The campaign is called “Go Red for Women”. Their goal is to provide life-saving information to women at every point in their lives. They’re also increasing medical research that is sex-based, because heart disease is different for men and women. For instance, chest pain is less common in women with heart disease, but women can also experience pain in the jaw as a symptom.
Heart Disease is the Top Cause of Death in Women
Heart disease causes 1/3rd of women’s deaths each year. There are a number of causes for heart disease in women, all of which you can learn about on the Go Red for Women website.
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Sex & Heart Disease
- Atherosclerosis & Stroke
- Atherosclerosis
- Silent Heart Attack: Symptoms, Risks
- Study of Women’s Heart Diseases
- Causes and Prevention of Heart Disease
- Common Myths About Heart Disease
- Heart Disease Stats at a Glance
- Facts, Causes Risk and Prevention of Stroke
- Heart Disease in African-American Women
- Heart Disease in Hispanic Women
- Educational Resources for heart Diseases
What are the Risk Factors for Heart Disease?
You can control some of your risk factors. If you can’t control a factor, make sure your doctor or cardiologist knows about your risk factors so you can make sure to balance your life around your risk factors.
Risk Factors you can control:
- Blood Pressure
- Cigarette Smoking
- Cholesterol
- Activity / Exercise
- Weight
- Type 2 Diabetes
Risk Factors you can’t control:
- Age
- Sex
- Family History of Heart Disease (congenital)
- Race
How to Spot Symptoms of Heart Attack and Stroke
Most people think a heart attack is when people clutch their chest and start gasping for air – but there are a few more ways you can identify a heart attack:
- Shortness of breath
- Back pain
- Nausea
- Jaw Pain / Clenching
If things feel off, better safe than sorry – call a doctor. Some symptoms of a stroke may feel like heart attack symptoms as well, notably:
- Numbness, weakness of peripherals.
- Sudden confusion
- Blurry vision
- Incoordination
- Severe and sudden headache
If you’re looking for a cardiologist, read more about our heart and vascular center.
Tags: cardiology, heart and vascular center, heart health month, women's health
This post was written by Magnolia Regional Health Center
