Although February is more well-known for Valentine’s Day, it’s also associated with another important holiday — American Heart Health month. Since the most important relationship in your life should be the one you have with yourself, at TITLE we want you to start falling in love with the new you — which means you should focus on your heart health!
Heart disease is considered more of a men’s disease, yet according to the Mayo Clinic more women than men die of heart disease every year, probably due to the fact that women’s heart disease symptoms manifest in a different way.
It’s time we start combating women’s heart disease. First up, recognizing the risk factors and symptoms of heart disease.
The Facts on Women & Heart Disease
Women’s Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Along with the standard risk factors for heart disease prevalent in both men and women, like high cholesterol, obesity, and high blood pressure, the following conditions also put women at higher risk of heart disease:
Depression & mental stress: it’s true that mental health issues such as depression can lead to an increased risk for heart disease in women, especially since depression can prevent women from maintaining their healthy habits.
Low post-menopausal estrogen levels: the decreased estrogen levels that women experience after menopause put them at higher risk for developing heart disease in the small blood vessels.
Metabolic syndrome: when women have fat around their abdomens, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides, they’re more likely to get heart disease.
Smoking: women who smoke are at higher risk of heart disease then men who smoke.
Women’s Symptoms of Heart Disease
Women and men have different risk factors for heart disease, so it makes sense that they have different symptoms, too. Often manifesting 10 years later than the symptoms of heart disease among men, for women these signs are also harder to identify. By learning these signs, women can better take action and get treatment for their heart disease.
Symptoms of heart disease in women include:
Burning sensations in the abdomen or chest
Pressure or pain that starts in the chest, then moves to the jaw or arm
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Sweating
Irregular heartbeat
Fatigue
Nausea
At TITLE Boxing Club, we care about your total health. Stay tuned for next week’s post, where we’ll explore how you can fight against heart disease!