Men and women have obvious physical differences, but there are differences that go far deeper. One of those deeper differences is how we respond emotionally. This difference is demonstrated through the different reactions and emotional responses to life's situations. Generally, men will keep their emotions bottled up inside, whereas women, on the other hand, will express themselves freely.
In addition, it has been documented, that men and women are different when it comes to displaying certain symptoms of diseases. One such difference is the exhibited affects of heart disease and their variance in symptoms between men and women. Two of the differences include the difference of symptoms demonstrated and the age at which heart attacks occur.
Symptoms
The health of both men and women suffer from the effects of heart disease. Yet, the symptom exhibited from heart disease in women varies significantly from how the symptoms are expressed in men who suffer from heart disease.
First of all, it's important to note that both men and women die from heart disease. However, the percentage of women dying from heart related diseases is greater than their male counterparts. What may contribute to this disproportionate statistic of fatalities attributed to heart disease in women is that the signs of a heart attack in a woman are not as apparent as a man who is experiencing a heart attack.
Generally, when a patient, who fits the profile, is experiencing chest pains a standard operating procedure is to order an angiogram. The results of this angiogram will reflect any blockages of the coronary arteries. The differing results of this test are striking between the two genders. The hearts of men are more likely to show signs of blockage in the coronary arteries, while the coronary arteries of the women will not.
Yet, medical experts emphasize that the health of a woman's heart is still in jeopardy. This is due to the discovery that heart disease in women begins within the small arteries of a woman's heart. These small arteries, as opposed to the larger coronary arteries in the male heart, have exhibited blockage which eventually deprives portions of the heart. This particular heart malady is called microvascular disease and is a prominent heart disease in women who experience the symptoms of chest pain associated with a heart condition.
Age
Another contributing factor of heart-disease in women and men is age. The age difference, between the two genders, is significant when experiencing the realities of heart-disease.
Unlike men who suffer heart attacks at earlier ages, women suffer the effects of cardiovascular disease during the later stages of their life. This fact is borne out in that the leading cause of death amongst older women is heart-disease. The average age for heart attacks amongst women is at the age of 70.
To counter the effects of heart-disease in women at a later stage in life, it is highly recommended that women become actively engaged in fighting heart-disease at an earlier age. The recommended timeline, to become more aware of heart-disease in women, is immediately following the menopausal stage
In addition to thinking early about heart-disease, preventative measures include a healthy diet and a routine form of aerobic exercise. These preventative measures should be in concert with the management of hypertension, weight control and regular cholesterol screenings.
The 5 signs of heart disease in women are something every women should be concerned about, especially those over age of 55. Most people believe that heart disease is reserved exclusively for men, but surprisingly as women grow older their risk of heart disease begins to rise dramatically until it becomes almost equal to that of men by the age of 62. Additionally, 22 percent of women ages 40 to 69 who survive a first heart attack will have another heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease within 5 years. So knowing the 5 signs of heart disease in women could literally save a woman's life.
The 5 signs of heart disease in women
If you have noticed one or more of the 5 signs of heart disease in women realize that you are well on your way to having a heart attack or stroke. The reason being is that hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) rarely produces any symptom until a significant amount of arterial blockage has occurred in one or more arteries. If you recognize any of these symptoms it is time to talk to your doctor.
*Becoming easily fatigued: When the heart is no longer able to supply essential oxygenated blood to support all functions the available blood must be sent to the most essential parts of the body which is normally the brain and the organs. This creates a shortage in other areas and leads chronic fatigue.
*Swollen, ankles, feet, legs, or belly: Because the cardiovascular system is not functioning properly blood and fluid starts to collect around the body. Gravity causes much of this fluid to collect in the feet, ankles, and legs.
*Increased urination during resting hours: When the cardiovascular system struggles there comes a point where even your organs may not be getting enough blood. When the kidneys are involved during the day they receive a reduced amount of blood leading to toxins building up in the bloodstream. Overnight when blood supply returns to normal the body tries to make up the shortfall which leads to increased urination.
*Shortness of breath: Some women simply write this one off to age or being out of shape, but if you are out of breath it could be much more than that. The most common cause of shortness of breath in women with heart disease is arterial blockage in the arteries responsible for returning blood to the heart. This causes fluid to back up into the lungs, making breathing more difficult.
*Increased heart rate and/or irregular heart rhythms: If the heart has become weaker or the heart is faced with having to work harder to move blood through narrowed arteries clogged by cholesterol laden plaque deposits it will have to pump faster and harder.
These are the 5 signs of heart disease in women that every woman should be aware of. One of the primary causes of many of these symptoms is coronary artery blockage caused by a high saturated fat and cholesterol diet resulting in weight gain. For this reason many natural health minded women has chosen to enlist the help of a natural cholesterol reduction supplement as a preventative tool in the battle against heart disease.
Did you know that heart disease in women presents differently than it does in men? It's true - women develop different symptoms than most men, and sometimes have no symptoms at all. That means that heart disease can be a much more dangerous thing for women than for men, and that reversing heart disease is even more important. Here's a look at how heart disease looks and how women's bodies behave when we have cardiovascular problems. The more you know, the easier it'll be to stay healthy.
Heart disease in women often presents differently. Men usually develop obvious areas of blockage in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, while women often accumulate plaque more evenly in major arteries and in smaller blood vessels. They may also have arteries that spasm or won't expand properly when under stress. This is why some women may have sudden heart attacks even when their arteries appear to be clear. Doctors who assumed it was "all in their heads" may have been wrong not to treat these women for heart attacks.
Symptoms Of A Heart Attack
Just as heart disease in women can take different forms, a heart attack can look different, too. The National Institute of Health, or NIH, says that women often have very different heart attack symptoms than men. For instance, symptoms of an impending attack can appear for up to a month before the attack itself. Since most women don't know what these symptoms are, reversing heart disease enough to stop the heart attack can be hard to do. Every woman should know what to watch out for, even if she doesn't believe she's at risk. Learning the symptoms of a heart attack could save your life, after all.
Fatigue is a big indicator. About ninety-five percent of women who've suffered from heart attacks say that they were very tired some time during the month before their heart attack. Men often feel just fine up until the moment when the problem occurs. Women will feel tired, but often have disturbed sleep and trouble sleeping through the night. Many feel short of breath, without having exercised.
Women rarely have chest pain, while most men suffer from chest pain about six hours before the attack. About half of women feel no pain at all, or have shortness of breath and trouble breathing deeply, but not the sharp pain we associate with a heart attack. Instead, heart disease in women that's turning into an attack often shows itself in back and shoulder cramping. Women rarely have numbness of the arms, but often develop numbness and cramping in their shoulders. Some women also say that they had pain in their jaw and neck a few days before the attack. Doctors still don't know why this might be the case, but a surprising number of women reported this symptom.
Many women having a heart attack actually feel like they have the flu - up to and including sneezing. Weakness, fever, dizziness and similar flu-like symptoms are very common. This can make it hard to diagnose the issue, but when back, chest and neck pressure or pain are present, too, the problem might be an impending heart attack. Anxiety, indigestion, and panic attacks in the hours before a heart attack are also common. The indigestion can actually start several days earlier and isn't relieved by over the counter medications.
Reversing Heart Disease
In addition to knowing your possible symptoms, you also need to think about how to get rid of the problem. By eating well, getting plenty of exercise, and living a healthy lifestyle, you can actually improve your heart health - even if you've had problems before. It's never too late to take control of your life and your health, and start feeling better. Take the time to do some research, and find out more about how to reverse heart disease and the symptoms that come with it. Women everywhere are learning that they can control their cardiovascular health. It's time to join them and treat yourself right.