This is Women’s Health Month, celebrated each May to share knowledge and experience that can improve women’s health and wellbeing. This is a time to reflect—especially for women with conditions like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions—and act to improve their own health, something that women often don’t prioritize for themselves.
A good place to start is with heart health. Heart Disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the US, and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common form of heart disease. CHD is caused by a gradual accumulation of plaque in your arteries (a combination of cholesterol, calcium, fat). Plaque can eventually block the flow of oxygen-rich blood reaching your heart and cause a heart attack, heart failure or an arrhythmia.
Lowering Your Risk of CHD
For most women, CHD is not something they think about or notice because the symptoms are often not recognizable for years, even decades. However, there are some things you can do now to minimize your risk of developing CHD:
-
Quit Smoking and limit exposure to second-hand smoke
-
Get regularly checked for blood pressure and manage it
-
Have an annual exam for high cholesterol and blood sugar
-
Develop a program to get physical activity each week
-
Strive to lower your Body Mass Index (BMI) to under 25
CHD Symptoms Among Women
CHD, like many medical conditions, can present with a unique set of symptoms for women. Although women with CHD can experience any of the symptoms listed below, they are more likely than men to report nausea, fatigue and breathlessness.
Nausea
Indigestion-like symptoms
Fatigue
Extreme tiredness, even when resting
Breathlessness
Particularly during physical activity
Radiating Pain
In arms, neck, jaw, stomach
Dizziness
Feeling faint or lightheaded
Cold Sweats
Unexpected sweating
Heart Palpitations
A fluttering in the chest
Chest Pain
Pressure, tightness or burning
If you have any of these symptoms and believe you are experiencing an event, do not wait, call emergency medical services right away.
Set Your Goals and Make a Plan
CHD moves slowly, but you don’t have to! Act now and take control of your health. Whether it be starting an exercise program or quitting smoking, establish a goal and make a plan to achieve it. Set a date to begin and keep a record of your progress. Involve friends and family for support, and you will likely find some with the same goals you have.
Start with a checkup and a discussion with your healthcare provider – that way you know where you stand with risk factors such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and BMI. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe medication to help reduce your CHD risk. This is Women’s Health Month – do something important for yourself!
REALITYRx specializes in healthcare marketing and has extensive experience creating digital marketing campaigns for both consumers and healthcare professionals. See examples of our client work here. What can we do for you? Let’s start a conversation.
This is Women’s Health Month, celebrated each May to share knowledge and experience that can improve women’s health and wellbeing. This is a time to reflect—especially for women with conditions like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions—and act to improve their own health, something that women often don’t prioritize for themselves.
A good place to start is with heart health. Heart Disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the US, and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common form of heart disease. CHD is caused by a gradual accumulation of plaque in your arteries (a combination of cholesterol, calcium, fat). Plaque can eventually block the flow of oxygen-rich blood reaching your heart and cause a heart attack, heart failure or an arrhythmia.
Lowering Your Risk of CHD
For most women, CHD is not something they think about or notice because the symptoms are often not recognizable for years, even decades. However, there are some things you can do now to minimize your risk of developing CHD:
-
Quit Smoking and limit exposure to second-hand smoke
-
Get regularly checked for blood pressure and manage it
-
Have an annual exam for high cholesterol and blood sugar
-
Develop a program to get physical activity each week
-
Strive to lower your Body Mass Index (BMI) to under 25
CHD Symptoms Among Women
CHD, like many medical conditions, can present with a unique set of symptoms for women. Although women with CHD can experience any of the symptoms listed below, they are more likely than men to report nausea, fatigue and breathlessness.
Indigestion-like symptoms
Fatigue
Extreme tiredness, even when resting
Breathlessness
Particularly during physical activity
Radiating Pain
In arms, neck, jaw, stomach
Dizziness
Feeling faint or lightheaded
Cold Sweats
Unexpected sweating
Heart Palpitations
A fluttering in the chest
Chest Pain
Pressure, tightness or burning
If you have any of these symptoms and believe you are experiencing an event, do not wait, call emergency medical services right away.
Set Your Goals and Make a Plan
CHD moves slowly, but you don’t have to! Act now and take control of your health. Whether it be starting an exercise program or quitting smoking, establish a goal and make a plan to achieve it. Set a date to begin and keep a record of your progress. Involve friends and family for support, and you will likely find some with the same goals you have.
Start with a checkup and a discussion with your healthcare provider – that way you know where you stand with risk factors such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and BMI. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe medication to help reduce your CHD risk. This is Women’s Health Month – do something important for yourself!
REALITYRx specializes in healthcare marketing and has extensive experience creating digital marketing campaigns for both consumers and healthcare professionals. See examples of our client work here. What can we do for you? Let’s start a conversation.
