Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
Did you know that heart disease is the number one cause of death for women? On the bright side, it’s also one of the most preventable. As women it is our responsibility to know exactly how we can avoid serious heart problems as well as what to do in the event of a heart attack.
In addition to reseaching and executing an appropriate exercise routine and maintaining a heart healthy diet, the more you know about your body and your risks, the less likely a life-threatening condition or event will occur.
Denial and Ignorance
Unfortunately, most women don’t consider themselves to be at risk for a heart attack. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Hundreds of thousands of women (of all ages) die as a result of heart attacks and other cardiovascular conditions. Another piece of information that most people (and even some health care providers) don’t know is that women produce different symptoms than men do upon the onset of a heart attack.
A Women’s Symptoms of a Heart Attack
- Nausea, dizziness, and anxiety (women experience these more often than men do)
- Chest pain may be accompanied by back pain and throbbing in one or both arms
- Anxiety may progress as a feeling that something bad is going to happen (impending doom)
- Heaviness between the breasts
- Breathlessness (inability to catch your breath)
- Tingling and numbness in the left arm
- Blackouts or periods of faintness
- Clamminess and sweating
A Life Saver
A friend sent me the following information about the importance of keeping aspirin in the home at all times. I thought it worthy to pass along as you never know when you or someone you love may fall prey to a sudden heart attack.
Why Have Aspirin by Your Bedside ?
If you take an aspirin or a baby aspirin once a day, take it at night. The reason: aspirin has a 24-hour “half-life”. Therefore, if most heart attacks happen in the wee hours of the morning, the aspirin would be the strongest in your system at that time.
The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep, did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep. If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirin in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water.
Afterwards, phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by, state that you have had a heart attack, and that you have taken two aspirin. Take a seat on a chair or sofa and wait for their arrival
and…DO NOT LIE DOWN !!!
Pass this post on: IT MAY SAVE LIVES !!! !!!
For more information about cardiovascular health, consult your health care provider. Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning to dance in the rain. Be well.
Photo by Bard Menel
