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many women assume their symptoms are not those typically associated with a heart attack . Many women may also downplay their symptoms . If you experience the symptoms discussed above or think you ’ re having a heart attack , call for emergency medical help immediately by dialing 911 .
Small vessel heart disease or coronary microvascular disease
Women are more likely than men to also have small vessel heart disease , a condition where they have blockages in the smaller arteries that supply blood to the heart in addition to the main arteries . It is for this reason that many believe the symptoms listed above can be subtler in women than men . Many researchers believe that a drop in estrogen levels during menopause combined with other heart disease risk factors causes small vessel heart disease .
In women who have small vessel coronary heart disease , angina often occurs during routine daily activities , such as cooking or shopping .
What Else Can Heart Disease Lead To ? In addition to angina or a heart attack , heart disease can cause other serious heart problems such as heart failure , irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias , stroke , and sudden cardiac arrest ( SCA ).
Heart failure is a condition where your heart can ’ t cope with the demands of your normal , everyday activities because your heart can ’ t pump enough blood to meet your body ’ s needs . Heart failure causes fatigue that usually increases with physician exertion , swelling in your ankles , feet , legs , abdomen or neck veins , and difficulty breathing ( shortness of breath ).
An arrhythmia is an irregular rate or rhythm of your heartbeat . During an arrhythmia , the heart beats either too fast , too slow , or with an irregular rhythm . Some people describe arrhythmias as a fluttering feeling or skipped beats in their chests . These are called palpitations . Many women who experience palpitations also feel lightheadedness or dizziness . If an arrhythmia causes your heart to suddenly stop beating , this is known as sudden cardiac arrest ( SCA ). SCA causes loss of consciousness and death if it ’ s not treated right away .
A stroke is a “ brain attack ” and occurs when blood flow to an area of your brain is cut off , depriving the brain of oxygen . Brain cells in the impacted area of the brain die , and the abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost . When a stroke occurs , people can feel sudden weakness , numbness of the face , arms and / or legs , especially on one side of the body , or an inability to move ( paralysis ). Other symptoms may include confusion , trouble speaking or understanding speech , shortness of breath , dizziness , difficulty seeing in one or both eyes , loss of consciousness , loss of balance or coordination , or sudden and severe headache .
Women ’ s Risk Factors for Heart Disease According to the CDC , 49 % ( roughly half ) of all Americans have at least one of three risk factors for heart disease : high LDL or “ bad ” cholesterol , high blood pressure , or smoking . Other medical conditions or lifestyle choices , such as obesity , poor diet and excessive alcohol use , like the previous risk factors for heart disease , seem to affect men and women about the same . But according to the Mayo Clinic , some risk factors such as Broken Heart Syndrome , diabetes , menopause , mental stress / depression , and pregnancy complications may play a bigger role in the development of heart disease in women .
Broken heart syndrome ( BHS ) is also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy , apical ballooning syndrome , or stressinduced cardiomyopathy . In this recently recognized heart problem , extreme emotional stress can lead to severe but usually temporary heart muscle failure , where a suddenly weakened heart isn ’ t able to pump enough blood to meet the body ’ s needs . BHS occurs more commonly in women after menopause .
According to the Mayo Clinic , women ’ s hearts are affected by stress and depression more than men ’ s . Because depression makes it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow recommended treatment , seek counseling or talk to your doctor if you ’ re suffering from depression .
It is believed that low levels of estrogen for post-menopausal women pose a significant risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease in the smaller blood vessels surrounding the heart .
It has been found that women who develop high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy increase their long-term risk of high blood pressure and diabetes , thus increasing the risk they develop heart disease . Unfortunately , some research suggests that this increased risk of developing heart disease does not just affect the expectant mothers , but may
10 DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017