IN Chartiers Valley Spring 2018 | Page 8

It’s time for a heart-to-heart about women’s cardiac health While heart problems have traditionally been seen as a male issue, it is a fact that today more American women die of cardiovascular disease than stroke, lung cancer, and breast cancer combined. And that’s why the focus of AHN Women’s Heart Center is to educate women about their heart health and provide them with comprehensive prevention and management programs. By helping women understand their unique risk factors and help identify symptoms, we’re helping protect hearts and keep them beating healthier and longer. Cardiac Fast Facts for Women* HEART DISEASE KILLS 400,000 WOMEN A YEAR. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS CRUCIAL. Two-thirds of women who die of heart disease have no family history of heart-related illness. SYMPTOMS DIFFER BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN. Women more often experience vague discomfort, shortness of breath, or nausea, versus a sharp pain. While not all risk factors for heart disease can be changed, many can be controlled to reduce the risk of heart disease and heart attack.