HEART ATTACK SIGNS for women

Heart disease, which includes coronary artery disease, heart failure and heart arrhythmias, is the leading cause of death among American women.

According to Take a Load off Your Heart, by Joseph C. Piscatella and Barry A. Franklin, Ph.D., these are the warning signs of a heart attack for a woman:

Pain, pressure or a sense of fullness under the breastbone that lasts 2 minutes or more. Women generally experience a radiating pain throughout the neck, jaw, shoulders, arms, back or abdomen - - and the symptoms may be subtle and may be experienced with dizziness, sweating, nausea & shortness of breath.

What to do? Call 911 IMMEDIATELY and chew and swallow one regular uncoated adult aspirin (325mg). So what if you’re wrong, a quick call to 911 could save your life. Most victims wait several hours before seeking medical attention by that time irreversible damage has occurred.

Prevention: Increased daily physical activity is key to cardiac health. Accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most and preferably all days of the week. The goal is to decrease your heart rate over time which shows your cardiovascular system has become more efficient – it does not need to work as hard to deliver oxygenated blood to the body. A regular endurance exercise program will decrease a person’s heart rate by more than 3 million beats per year!