Patient Information

Getting to the Heart of the Matter
by Amy Rawl Epps, M.D.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American women. One out of every four women will die of it each year, more than 250,000 from heart attacks alone. Unfortunately the majority of women still don’t recognize that heart disease should be a concern. Likewise, few realize that more women than men die of heart disease or that signs and symptoms in women can be subtle.  Sobering studies have shown that nearly two-thirds of women who die suddenly of a heart attack had no prior symptoms. Additionally, women with heart disease are often misdiagnosed or under treated.

Part of the problem is that diagnosing heart disease in women can more difficult than in men. Women are more likely to present with atypical symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue or only “mild chest discomfort.”  Subsequently, these symptoms may go overlooked.  A woman’s role has typically been to take care of everyone else in the household first.   She may ignore unusual symptoms as just signs of fatigue and not seek medical attention until it is too late.  The good news is that the majority of the devastating effects of heart disease can be prevented.  Advocacy plays an important role in women seeking and receiving the appropriate care.

It is vitally important for every woman to be able to identify whether she is at risk for heart disease.  For both men and women, the biggest factors that contribute to heart disease are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history, diabetes and age.  Everyone should take a moment to look at their lifestyle, family history and general health. It is important to have a serious discussion with your physician about your risks and possible symptoms that you may already be experiencing. 

Here are the important risk factors to be aware of:

Don’t smoke.

More than half of the heart attacks in women under 50 are related to smoking. If you stop smoking, you can lower your risk of heart attack by one third within 2 years. smoke from someone else's cigarettes is also bad for your heart and lungs.

Control your blood pressure.

A lower blood pressure reduces the workload of the heart.  Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet are all ways to help control high blood pressure. If these steps don't lower your blood pressure, your doctor may recommend medicine for you to take.

Control your cholesterol level.   

I always tell my patients that ‘cholesterol is what clogs the pipes’.  It is most important to know what your LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol levels are and if abnormal to make a plan on what to do about it. 

Maintain a healthy weight. 

Extra weight puts strain on your heart and arteries. Exercise and a low-fat diet can help you lose weight as well as lower your blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels. Your heart is a muscle and it also needs regular exercise to stay in shape.

Control your diabetes. 

Having diabetes is an incredibly high risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. Diabetics are also more likely to have atypical symptoms of heart disease that may be under or misdiagnosed.

Know your family history. 

Having a father or brother with heart disease before age 55, or a mother or sister with heart disease before age 65, are factors that contribute to heart disease.