February 3, National Wear Red Day

February 3, National Wear Red Day emphasizes women’s heart health.  As people around the country wear red today, they are supporting women’s heart health initiatives.  

Women may worry about breast cancer and see it as a scary prospect, and it is.  However in 2008, more women died from heart/cardiovascular disease (419,730) than from all forms of cancer combined (270,210). “More than one in three female adults has some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD).  Since 1984, the number of CVD deaths for females has exceeded those for males.”  (American Heart Association, Women & Cardiovascular Diseases, http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@sop/@smd/documents/downloadable/ucm_319576.pdf

Now that I have your attention, what do women need to know about heart disease? “64% of women who died suddenly of CVD had no previous symptoms.” For many years the medical community believed heart disease predominantly affected men.  The symptoms publicized were the classic symptoms of pressure (“an elephant sitting on my chest”) and discomfort that affects one or both arms, upper back, neck, jaw or stomach.  The person may also sweat, feel unable to catch his breath,  feel fatigued, nauseated and/or dizzy.

Anyone (either man or woman) can experience these classic symptoms. However, doctors are recognizing that women may not experience the classic symptoms.  Some women may instead deal with (and ignore) subtle symptoms such as fatigue, feeling short of breath and feeling nauseated.  Women often ignore these subtle symptoms and do not get the medical help they need. 

Ladies (and the men who love them), please do not ignore these symptoms.  Seek medical help when you experience these symptoms.