Not more than ten years ago, few people outside the medical community paid much attention to the fact that heart disease had surfaced as an equal opportunity killer. Most people believed that only middle aged men had heart attacks.
The statistics, however, present a chillingly different picture. Cardiovascular disease now kills more women than any other disease. Half of all women eventually will develop some form of heart disease.
The statistics may show an equal opportunity for heart disease among men and women, but when a woman has a heart attack it is likely to be more severe than for a man. This could be due, in part, to the fact that women are usually older when the first attack strikes; ten to fifteen years older, in fact; perhaps because of the "protection" afforded by female hormones.
According to Dr. Juan Amell, "Women tend to take their husband's chest pains far more seriously than her own. Research indicates that women experience angina off and on for years before a heart attack occurs, but there are so many other conditions with the same symptoms, she often delays making an appointment to find out what is wrong."
Significant research is continuing to discover the facts about women and heart disease, and more and more women are involved in the scientific studies. It is currently known, however, that the same risk factors impact both men and women.
Perhaps the most important of these is smoking. Women have not kicked the habit as rapidly as men have. Two out of three women under the age of 50 who suffered a heart attack could have prevented it by not smoking.
More women are in the workforce today, and certainly suffer their share of stress. Stress -- particularly chronic stress -- carries with it an array of physical symptoms, all of which have detrimental effects on the heart.
Some risks, such as family history, cannot be controlled, but there are steps women can take to minimize their risk for heart disease. After age 40, for example, she should make sure that her physical exam includes a stress test. Women of all ages should get plenty of aerobic exercise, QUIT SMOKING, keep weight under control, learn to manage stress, and control fats and cholesterol in the diet.
"Most of all," Dr. Amell suggested, "women should know the symptoms of heart disease and see their doctor at the first sign of chest discomfort. We know from experience that adopting a heart-healthy life-style can make a difference," Dr. Amell continued. "Chances are that a risk-prevention regimen will make her feel like she is taking charge of her health, improve her self-esteem, and actually add years to her life. That is certainly a good incentive to get started."