The five biggest misconceptions about women and heart health.
"Heart attack is a man's disease"
That is correct, but: 47 out of 100 people with a heart attack are women. And heart diseases – in addition to heart attacks, including heart weakness, cardiac arrhythmias and valve diseases – are also the number one cause of death for them. According to the results of a survey by the “Listen to your heart” initiative, only one in three is aware of this fact. Women are much more afraid of cancer, especially breast cancer. The bad thing about it: Compared to cancer, you really have a lot in your own hands when it comes to heart health.
"A heart attack only affects older people"
Only partially true. For men, the risk increases from around 40 and for women a good ten years later. Before menopause, women are relatively well protected by their high levels of estrogen. Because female hormones bind to receptors in the walls of our blood vessels and expand them. The hormonal changes during menopause, however, also have a negative impact on blood pressure, fat and sugar metabolism. The body fat shifts towards the waist, so that older women tend to exceed the waist circumference of 88 centimeters, which is critical for heart health. But younger women are also affected, with 35 to 54 year olds the number of infarcts even increases. Particularly fatal: the combination of smoking and taking birth control pills or diabetes.
"The attack comes out of nowhere"
Hardly ever. Apart from rare cases, a heart attack is always the result of a disease of the coronary arteries caused by arteriosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries"). The vessels narrow in the process. However, this often goes undetected for years. It is all the more important from around the age of 40 – earlier if there is family history – to regularly check blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids and, if necessary, to treat them consistently. In addition, so-called angina pectoris with a feeling of tightness or shortness of breath during physical exertion should be taken seriously and examined more closely, for example through an exercise EGK.
"A heart attack is easy to spot"
Unfortunately not always, especially with women. Sudden pain or a burning sensation in the chest area, radiating to the left arm and towards the lower jaw, as well as a feeling of tightness or pressure – these symptoms are usually considered to be classic complaints. Women are much more likely to experience shortness of breath, back pain, nausea, vomiting or pain in the upper abdomen. Sometimes a woman with a heart attack just feels tired and exhausted. Since pain perception is often impaired in people with diabetes, the symptoms are often particularly difficult to assign to them.
"A weak heart is predisposition"
Right. Genetically determined susceptibility to heart disease cannot be influenced. If you have had early heart attacks in your close relatives, you should definitely speak to your doctor about it. It is also a fact that the risk of a heart attack increases with age and pollution. Nevertheless: Around 80 percent of heart attacks can be traced back to poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking and stress or the resulting high blood pressure or diabetes. The good news: a change in lifestyle pays off, about 2,000 more steps a day reduce the risk of heart attacks for people with pre-diabetes by eight to ten percent, according to a large study.
Would you like to read more about the topic and exchange ideas with other women? Then have a look at the "Women's Health Forum" BRIGITTE community past!
Get the BRIGITTE as a subscription – with many advantages. You can order them directly here.