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A Cardiologist’s Advice to Women

Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States? It accounts for about 1 in every 5 female deaths. In honor of American Heart Month this February, we’re sharing some ways we can all work to change that statistic.

Beyond Self Care

The term “self-care” has generated more and more discussion in recent years. While much of these discussions rightly focus on important aspects of life such as mental health, knowing when to rest, and taking time to do things you enjoy, there is another very important factor that should be at the forefront — and that is your physical health.

“Women in particular struggle with this part of self-care,” explains Dr. Mayuri Patel, who specializes in general, preventative, and interventional cardiology at Lakeland Regional Health. “We tend to take care of everyone else’s needs before our own, and just figure we’ll take care of ourselves later. But then when ‘later’ arrives, something else takes priority, and so on.”

“I take care of so many women, and really want to help them prioritize themselves,” says Dr. Patel. “The bottom line is to take as good care of yourself as you do of others.”

- Mayuri Patel, MD
Interventional Cardiology

When women get overtired and exhibit symptoms that seem random, many just assume they’ve been pushing themselves to do too much. However, Dr. Patel cautions that symptoms that appear out of the ordinary should never be ignored.

While chest pain is still one of the most obvious indicators of a heart problem, there are other symptoms that happen in women more often than they do in men. These can happen gradually over time, and can come and go. Since these factors alone aren’t generally alarming, they can be easily overlooked or pushed aside.

“More than 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events can be prevented with the right education and proactive measures,” says Dr. Patel. “This is why I’m so passionate about educating women on how to take charge of their heart health.”

Dr. Patel recommends these steps to help put you on the path to a healthy heart.

Know the Symptoms

Pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the chest (including the lower chest or upper abdomen) are the signs that most people think of when it comes to signs of a potential heart attack.

However, it’s very important to note that women do not always have chest pain when they have a heart condition or are facing an impending heart episode, which is why being aware of additional symptoms is so important.

While each of these symptoms alone may not necessarily be cause for alarm, any that appear suddenly, severely, or accompany some of the others, should always be evaluated by a medical professional. *

These include:

  • Chest pain, pressure, squeezing, or fullness (even if it comes and goes) *
  • Heart palpitations*
  • Pain in one or both arms, the neck, jaw, or upper back
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Fainting/dizziness/lightheadedness
  • Heartburn/indigestion
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Shortness of breath
  • Breaking out in a cold sweat
  • Abnormal swelling

*Remember, call 911 in an emergency. Any chest pain should be evaluated immediately.

Learn the Risk Factors

Dr. Patel says that even though information about women’s heart health is readily available, there is still a large misconception that heart disease does not affect women as often, or as severely, as men.

“In fact, this misconception itself is one of the biggest risk factors,” she explains. “So many heart conditions can be prevented or effectively managed if women just know what to look for and have conversations with their physicians about their risk factors.”

Another common misconception is that women who have not yet gone through menopause are not at risk for heart disease. “Many women think that estrogen protects them, but that isn’t always the case,” Dr. Patel advises. “This is why regular checkups are essential at every stage of a woman’s life, not just after menopause.”

While unchangeable factors such as age, heredity, and race can affect your risk for heart disease, there are several factors that can be managed with your doctor’s help.

You Can Manage These Heart Disease Risk Factors

 

Additional Factors
While the below factors are not sole contributors to heart disease, being aware of them and discussing them with your physician can make a difference in how your heart health is evaluated and treated.

  • Prior or current use of hormone medications including birth control, hormone replacement therapy, and fertility treatments
  • Pregnancy after age 35 (advanced maternal age)
  • Inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus

 

It is also important to note that people with diabetes are at risk for what is referred to as “silent” heart disease, because chest pain among these patients is a less common symptom.

See Your Doctor

Just as delays in care can result in less positive outcomes, taking proactive steps before problems occur can greatly increase the probability of good outcomes and can benefit your heart and general health.

“Start with your primary care provider,” Dr. Patel advises. “In addition to helping you manage your overall health and any ongoing health concerns, they can determine if you need an EKG and labs, which can reveal whether you would benefit from the care of a cardiologist.” Of course, seeing your primary care provider regularly will set you up for long-term success.

 

In fact, the Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group has multiple Primary Care providers in multiple locations, so scheduling an appointment with your established provider or finding a new one is quick and easy.

Adopt Healthy Habits

Just as delays in care can result in less positive outcomes, taking proactive steps before problems occur can greatly increase the probability of good outcomes and can benefit your heart and general health.

While cardiovascular disease impacts some women at higher rates than others, the most important thing to realize is that you have the power to dramatically reduce your risk. Here are just a few ways to do it.

 

Regular exercise
Exercising strengthens your heart muscles and reduces the effects of high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure on your body. Exercise can seem difficult to fit into your schedule, or even intimidating to do. But exercise does not have to be complex or intense to be effective. Even taking brisk walks and swimming can make a difference. (Just be sure to work with your medical provider before beginning any new exercise routine.)

 

Good nutrition and healthy weight

Your first defense against heart disease is a healthy diet. Nutrition from lean proteins, healthy fats, whole grains, and a variety of fruits and vegetables is a great way to start. Your primary care provider can make specific recommendations based on your individual needs, or refer you for additional guidance. Obesity also contributes to heart disease, so getting your body mass index (BMI) within a healthy range can also greatly reduce your risk.

 

Healthy choices

Managing your stress levels by finding healthy ways to cope, talking to your health care team about whether you should be tested for diabetes, limiting your alcohol consumption,

quitting smoking, and checking your blood pressure regularly are all simple choices that you can make to increase your overall health and decrease your risk of heart disease.

Schedule your appointment today with one of our many Primary Care providers to get started on the path to a healthier heart. →

Jack and Tina Harrell Institute for Advanced Cardiovascular Medicine

At Lakeland Regional Health, we place people at the heart of all we do. We have been the pioneers of heart health in Polk County for more than 30 years, and we are dedicated to continuously setting the standard when it comes to caring for your heart. You can be confident that our board-certified, highly experienced cardiologists, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons, electrophysiologists, anesthesiologists, and specialty-trained cardiac nurses, along with other multidisciplinary heart specialists are committed to you every step of the way. We will give you the best care in a safe, advanced, and compassionate environment.

Learn more about how we care for your heart health. →

Article Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

American Heart Association—Go Red for Women

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