February is National Heart Month. Not just because the 14th of the month is Valentine’s day, but more so to bring awareness to Heart Disease. Heart Disease is the number one killer of women, and most of the time women don’t even know they are experiencing an actual heart attack.
On average, a single heart attack occurs approximately every 34 seconds each day. It is the one disease that affects everyone, it does not discriminate. Men and women of every race and almost any age can experience a heart attack. Because everyone is susceptible to heart attacks, everyone should be more educated. To educate yourself on awareness click here for a printable piece that can be (and should be) posted anywhere (your fridge, cubicle, even in your car), be sure to add emergency contact numbers.
Heart Attacks happen when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart is severely reduced or blocked completely. When the hearts’ arteries become thicker due to a buildup of fat and cholesterol the blood supply is diminished. Heart attack symptoms include chest pain, upper body pain, stomach pain (much like heartburn), shortness of breath, anxiety (much like a panic attack), dizzy, sweating and nausea.
In the event of a heart attack, stay calm and do not panic, you then need to call an ambulance. When it comes to suffering a heart attack EMT’s are fully prepared. And in the circumstances that your heart were to stop, they are equipped and trained on how to get it started again. It is their job to get you safely and calmly to the hospital for treatment, as opposed to a scared family member. And more often than not, patients brought to hospitals by ambulance usually get attention sooner than just walking into the ER.
Heart Disease is the number one killer of women, and most of the time women don’t even know they are experiencing an actual heart attack. Most women feel as if they are experiencing acid reflux or simply have symptoms of the flu, or even an anxiety attack (which presents similar symptoms). People commonly relate Heart Attacks to a dramatic scene of events, a clutch of the chest and falling over, but this isn’t always the case. Especially in women, attacks are typically subtler and confusing.
Women experiencing a heart attack often describe the symptoms as shortness of breath, lightheaded and upper back pressure.
Below is what the American Heart Association’s website lists as:
Heart Attack Signs in Women
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
- As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.
The prevention of heart disease is simple, and the use of medication is not always needed. Lifestyle changes is all that is required. If you are overweight, lose weight. Eat healthier, add more vegetables and fruits to your diet and less greasy fast food. Add at least thirty minutes of exercise to your daily routine (and this does not need to be all at one time, break it up throughout the day, just exercise enough to accelerate your heart). If you smoke, stop! And when feasible try to avoid the stress, meditate or take time for yourself to decompress. Most people don’t think they can afford to lose the time from their busy life to dedicate to themselves, but the cost to others could be devastating when the loss of time is forever from a heart attack.
Health Insurance Specialists, Inc. is an all in one location for comparing and purchasing life, health, dental, vision, travel, pet, identity insurance and more! Visit our online store to compare and buy today www.his-inc.com