American Heart Month Wear Red Day
American Heart Month
Friday, February 4th, is national “Wear Red Day” – an annual event to bring attention to women’s heart health.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease doesn’t just affect men. In fact, they report that 1 in 3 women die of heart disease and stroke each year. But heart disease can be prevented, with education and lifestyle changes.
According to the American Heart Association, nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented. Yet most people, especially women, don’t know their personal health numbers that are critical to determining their risk. Knowing your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke is critical to improving community health.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common heart attack symptom in women is some type of pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest. However, those symptoms are not always severe or even the most prominent in women. Sometimes, women have a heart attack without chest pain.
Women are more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain, such as:
- Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in one or both arms
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Unusual fatigue
Women’s symptoms may occur more often when women are resting, or even when they’re asleep. Mental stress also may trigger heart attack symptoms in women.
I encourage you to talk with your doctor to learn more about heart health and the steps you can take to keep yourself healthy.
For more information please visit the American Heart Association website here.