Women's Heart Health Month

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women. The term heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions, including coronary artery disease and heart attack. Although some women have no symptoms of heart disease, others may have: 

• Angina (dull and heavy or sharp chest pain or discomfort) 

• Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat

• Pain in the upper abdomen or back These symptoms may happen when you are resting or when you are doing regular daily activities. Women also may have other symptoms, including: 

• Nausea 

• Vomiting 

• Fatigue If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 right away. Key risk factors for heart disease are: 

• High blood pressure, high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, and smoking Other factors that add risk are: 

• Diabetes 

• Having overweight or obesity 

• Eating an unhealthy diet 

• Physical inactivity 

• Drinking too much alcohol 

For more information, check out the CDC link above and American Heart Association at www.heart.org.

note: This information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/ women.htm