Women’s #1 Killer: Heart Disease or Cancer?

The #1 killer of women in the United States is HEART DISEASE, not cancer as many people think. In 2006 there were 332,000 deaths in the U.S. that were associated with heart disease, according to the records of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

The First Lady, Laura Bush, has taken action to help inform people of the symptoms of a heart attack and gives advice on how to prevent it. She joined forces with the NHLBI and is very active in helping women prevent heart attacks. The good news is that the numbers are decreasing – it was one out of three women that died of a heart attack in 2003 and in 2004 it declined to one out of four – a decrease of 17,000 deaths. However, we still need to continue to make people aware of the symptoms of heart attacks and give them advice on how to prevent it. “The really good news is that heart disease CAN BE PREVENTED and there are very easy steps for all of us to take to change our lifestyles and prevent heart disease,” says Mrs. Bush in the Spring issue of Heart-Healthy Living magazine. She believes that a balanced diet, and her “early-to-bed-early-to-rise” regime keeps stress levels under control, a crucial part of helping prevent heart disease.

Here are the symptoms associated with heart attacks which were recorded in the Heart-Healthy Living Magazine, Spring 2007 issue:

~Pressure, pain or discomfort in the center of the chest that comes and goes

~Shortness of breath

~Unusual fatigue

~Pain in the upper body, including back, neck, arms, jaws and stomach

~Nausea, cold sweats, dizziness

An important thing to do when preventing a heart attack is to be aware not only of the symptoms but also of the risk factors. The more risk factors you have, the greater the risk of heart disease. Elizabeth Nabel, M.D., in the Heart-Healthy Magazine, says that “One risk factor can increase your chances of heart disease twofold. Having two risk factors increases it four-fold and three, tenfold.” Risk factors include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, lack of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, and family history of heart disease.

So, be aware of the risks that can cause heart attacks and the symptoms that you have if you do have one. Prevent heart attacks by

* eating healthy

* exercising regularly

* not smoking

* keeping your cholesterol down

* keeping stress down as much as possible – practice meditation, yoga, etc. Anything that will help lower your stress level.

There are definitely ways to help prevent having heart disease. Don’t just accept that since you have a family history of heart disease you can’t do anything about it. Start to lower the risk factors in your life by living a healthier lifestyle – it is that simple. Simply adapt good eating habits, incorporate at least 30 minutes of excercise into your daily routine, use products that are not filled with toxins, adapt good sleep habits, and lower your stress level.

Live healthy! Lower your risk of heart attacks – women’s number one killer in the U.S!

By: Mirdza Hayden

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