Women: Heart Disease and Stroke

• Heart Attack Warning Signs for Women
• Stroke Warning Signs
• Health Goals for Women 

You may think that because you are a woman that the greatest health concern for you is breast cancer.  Heart disease is the number ONE cause of death among American women.  The reality is:

• One in Two women die from heart disease
• One in 28 women die of breast cancer in their lifetime
• One in Five women have some form of cardiovascular disease
• 38% of women who have heart attacks die within the first year compared with 25% of men.  Women have heart attacks at an older age and are more likely than men to die from the heart attack within the first few weeks.  
• In 64% of women who died suddenly from heart disease, there were no previous signs or symptoms
• Stroke is the third leading cause of death in women

 Warning Signs for Women

Know the heart attack warning signs for women.  They can be different than men’s signs. 
Call 9-1-1 if any of these signs occur!

• Chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes and goes away and comes back.  It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.  
• Discomfort or pain in other areas of upper body:  one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.  
  Shortness of breath along with chest discomfort or before it.  New or unusual  shortness of breath during everyday activities or at rest.
• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, lightheadedness, dizziness, upper abdominal pressure or discomfort

Back to Top

 Stroke Warning Signs

Know the stroke warning signs.  Call 9-1-1 if any of these signs occur!

• Sudden numbness or weakness in your face, an arm or leg, or on one side of your body
• Sudden dimness or loss of vision, especially in one eye
• Sudden loss of speech, or difficultly talking or understanding
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
• Sudden dizziness or unsteadiness especially with any of the above symptoms

Back to Top

 Health Goals for women: 

• Total cholesterol:  <200 mg/dL
• LDL (bad) cholesterol:  Goals vary
  People with no known heart disease:  100 mg/dL or less
  People with known heart disease or diabetes:  70 mg/dL or less
• HDL (good) cholesterol:  50 mg/dL or greater
• Triglycerides:  <150 mg/dL
• Blood pressure:  120/80 mmHg or less
• Fasting Blood sugar:  <110 mg/dL
• Body Mass Index (BMI):  25 or less
• Waist Circumference:  35 inches or less
• Exercise:  at least 30 minutes most or all days of the week
• Eat a balanced diet:  emphasize fruit, vegetables, cereals and grain products, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, legumes, nuts, fish, poultry and lean meats.
• Do Not Smoke:  if you do, STOP.  
• Schedule regular visits with your doctor. 

Back to Top

As you can see, the risk factors for heart disease and stroke are very similar.  Control your risk factors and don’t become a statistic.  It is essential that all women control their risk factors for heart disease and stroke.  For more information please call St. Mary’s Heart Institute at (812) 485-5230, or log on to the American Heart Association’s website  to learn more about GO RED for women.