Unusual fatigue, trouble sleeping, shortness of breath, indigestion, and anxiety were the top 5 symptoms reported by both black and white women in the study. However, black women had more intense episodes and reported them more often.

ACT IN TIME

Recognizing and treating a heart attack right away dramatically improves a patient's chance for survival. The typical American -- male or female -- however, waits 2 hours before calling for help.

Studies have shown that drugs that dissolve coronary blood clots during a heart attack can reduce the death rate in both men and women, although women have a higher risk of stroke from the therapy. Unfortunately, statistics show that a woman in the midst of having a heart attack often receives clot-busting therapy much later than a man would.

Women coming into the hospital for a heart attack have a higher death rate and higher risk of complications. A premenopausal woman having a heart attack has twice the death rate of a similarly aged man, according to experts.

Know the warning signs and always call 911 within 5 minutes of the onset of symptoms. By acting quickly, a heart attack victim is less likely to experience cardiac arrest (where the heart stops beating).

PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WOMEN

There is no denying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But preventing a disease means believing you are actually at risk -- and many women fail to see that.

Women are advised to take charge of their health by working with their doctor to address risk factors, and keep tabs on cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and lifestyle.

According to the American Heart Association, low blood levels of "good" cholesterol (high density lipoprotein, or HDL) are a stronger predictor of heart disease death in women than in men.

Estrogen may increase the risk of heart disease in older women. However, it may still be somewhat protective in preventing heart disease when given under certain circumstances. Estrogen is probably the safest for women under 60 years of age.

Current guidelines support the use of HRT for the treatment of hot flashes. Specific recommendations:

• HRT may be started in women who have recently entered menopause.
• HRT should not be used in women who have started menopause many years ago.
• The medicine should not be used for longer than 5 to 7 years.

Images

Acute MI

Heart, front view

• < Page
1 2 3
• >

Next Section

Heart disease and women Prevention

Review Date: 05/22/2010
Reviewed By: Issam Mikati, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Director, Northwestern Clinic Echocardiography Lab, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)