IN Peters Township December 2019/January 2020 | Page 33

Heart Disease In Women
Brian A. Staub, M.D.
T
ake a moment and picture someone having a heart attack. Did you
picture a man, sweating and grabbing his chest? If so, you wouldn’t
be alone. Studies have shown that only 1 in 5 American women
realize that heart disease is the number one killer in women (and
more deadly than all cancers combined). While 1 in 31 deaths in
women each year are caused by breast cancer, 1 in 3 deaths in women are
caused by heart disease. 1 One only has to look at the media attention and the
number of women represented in research studies to understand why women
grossly underestimate their risk of developing significant heart disease.
So what can female patients do to decrease the risk of being adversely
affected by heart disease? The first step is to understand one’s individual risk of
developing heart disease. In addition to the traditional risk factors for developing
coronary disease (high cholesterol, current smoking, diabetes, hypertension,
obesity, and family history of heart disease), other risk factors specific to women
include early menopause, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia,
and polycystic ovarian syndrome.
While some risk factors cannot be changed such as family history of heart
disease, other risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, and obesity can be
greatly modified. Take a proactive role with your physician in understanding your
overall risk of heart disease by asking what you can do to decrease your risk.
Ensure that you are having your blood pressure, blood glucose, lipid panels,
weight and body-mass index checked at the appropriate intervals.
Simple tips that I tell all of my patients who are overweight and/or
hypertensive:
• Weigh yourself daily. Research studies have shown that people who weigh
themselves daily gain less weight than those who do not.
• Check the calorie content (and corresponding serving size) of everything you
eat. Most chain eateries post their nutritional information on-line or in their
restaurant. You can then discuss with your physician what an appropriate
daily caloric intake is given your age and other risk factors (A general rule of
thumb is around 2,000 calories/day).
• Buy a home blood pressure cuff and check your blood pressure several
times per week and bring your blood pressure readings in to your physician
if you have, or are at risk for developing high blood pressure.
The other important component alongside prevention of heart disease is early
recognition of signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Unfortunately, women do
not have as straightforward symptoms as their male counterparts; only half of
women with heart attacks have chest pain. In addition to chest pain, women
may report back or neck pain, heartburn/indigestion, nausea, vomiting, extreme
fatigue, or shortness of breath/difficulty breathing.
Remember, the first step to healthy living is education. Should you or anyone you
know have any further questions regarding your risk of heart disease, contact
your local physician or neighboring cardiologist.
-Brian A. Staub, M.D.
https://www.goredforwomen.org/about-heart-disease/facts_about_heart_disease_in_women-sub-category/
statistics-at-a-glance/
1
Brian A. Staub, M.D.
Accepting New Patients
[phone]
whs.org
Dr. Staub completed his medical degree and
residency at the University of Pittsburgh, and
completed his Fellowship in Cardiovascular
Disease at Allegheny General Hospital. He is
board certified by the Pennsylvania Board of
Medicine.
To schedule an appointment please
call [phone] or visit whs.org