Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death for women and can affect women at any age. Symptoms often can be more subtle.
Some risk factors are beyond your control, while others can be managed. In addition to the traditional risk factors described below, there is new information on such issues as pregnancy complications and autoimmune disorders to consider. Learn more within these drop down menus.
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Chest Pain:
While women do not always experience the crushing pain men describe, they often describe tightness or fullness in the chest or throat that radiates down the jaw, left shoulder, or arm.
Shortness of Breath:
This may occur during or after activity or waking up breathless at night.
Chronic Fatigue:
Overwhelming or unusual fatigue may be a symptom of heart disease. Severe fatigue that lasts several days may also be a heart attack symptom.
Dizziness:
May indicate heart valve disease or arrhythmia (an irregular heart rhythm).
Swelling:
Particular in the lower legs and ankles
Rapid Heartbeats or "Flutters":
These episodes may cause pain or difficulty breathing.
Smoking:
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of heart disease by two to four times, and quitting allows your body to begin healing almost immediately.
High Blood Pressure:
20 percent of women of child-bearing age have high blood pressure, although many do not realize it. The rate increases to 40 percent for women between ages 45 and 64 and 60 percent for those age 65.
High Cholesterol:
About one-third of American women have cholesterol levels high enough to pose a serious heart disease risk.
Diabetes:
Women with diabetes have a higher risk of heart disease than men with diabetes. Diabetes may damage your blood vessels and increase the risk of fatty deposits building up in the arteries.
Weight:
Excess weight affect blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose (sugar) levels.
Activity Level:
Regular exercise-even moderate levels-may help you control blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and weight.
Age and Gender:
While women's risk of heart disease is lower than men's before menopause, their risk increases with age as estrogen levels decrease.
Family History:
Your risk increases if an immediate family member had heart disease at an early age-55 for a male relative or younger than 65 for a female relative.
Race:
African-American and Hispanic women have a higher risk of heart disease than Caucasian women.
Powers Health is an area leader in testing to assist physicians in the diagnosis of heart and vascular disease processes. These studies provide precise information on conditions or abnormalities of the heart and vascular system:
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Powers Health is the area’s destination for heart care, offering one of the largest, most advanced cardiovascular program in Northwest Indiana. Our patients have access to the full resources of our comprehensive heart care team and their expertise. Learn more about our advanced cardiology program.