Tallwoods Care Center

A Premier Nursing, Rehabilitation & Long-Term Care Center 18 Butler Blvd. Bayville, NJ 08721 www.TallwoodsCareCenter.com 732-237-2220 Discover Ocean County’s Fountain of Youth 527 River Ave. Lakewood, NJ 08701 www.FountainViewCareCenter.com 732-905-0700

Heart Disease

Written By Marissa Vega, Marketing Director tallWooDs care center & FountainVieW care center

Heart disease is often thought to be more problematic for men than women, but that is not the case. It is actually the number one killer for women. Fortunately, there is a lot of information available for women to learn more about risks, symptoms and solutions of heart disease.

The most common symptom people associate with a heart attack is severe chest pain lasting several minutes. Contrary to belief, women often don’t experience chest pain. It has commonly been described as tightness or pressure. Other symptoms women can experience can be: • Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back, or abdominal pain • Shortness of breath • Pain in one or both arms • Nausea or vomiting • Sweating • Lightheadedness or dizziness • Unusual fatigue • Indigestion

Women tend to be less diagnosed with heart disease than men due to the fact that women don’t often recognize their symptoms as a heart attack. Symptoms are more often occurring while resting or even sleeping. By the time women arrive at the hospital, it is often too late and damage has been done to the heart. There are many factors that can increase the risk for heart disease. Traditional factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. Other factors can include diabetes, mental stress and depression, smoking, inactivity, menopause, pregnancy complications, family history of heart disease and inflammatory diseases. Because heart disease is so dangerous for women, all women, even those under 65, need to pay close attention to symptoms.

There are several ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce your risks for heart disease. These include: • Quit smoking • Exercise regularly • Maintain a healthy weight • Eat a healthy diet • Manage your stress • Limit alcohol • Follow your treatment plan prescribed by your doctor • Manage other health conditions

Women should discuss risk factor with their doctors and consider having a risk assessment performed. There are many medications and treatments for heart disease if it is caught early enough. If a woman has any feelings of discomfort or thinks she has a symptom, immediately seek medical treatment. It can make all the difference!!