Heart disease kills one in three American women—making it the leading cause of death of women in the U.S.

According to the U.S. Department of Health, in 2003, almost twice as many women died of cardiovascular disease (both heart disease and stroke), than from all cancers combined.

What is Heart Disease?

There are a number of abnormal conditions affecting the heart and its blood vessels.  Types of heart disease include:

Heart Arrhythmias
Most people have felt dizzy, faint, out of breath, or had chest pains at one time. For most people these symptoms are harmless. As people age, they are more likely to have arrhythmias, or changes in the beat of the heart.  Heart racing or fluttering is not normally a cause for concern.  However, if you have flutters and other symptoms like dizziness or shortness of breath, call your doctor immediately.

Heart Failure
Heart failure does not mean the heart stops. Failure happens when the heart is not able to pump blood as well as it should and other vital organs aren't getting enough blood, either.  Signs of heart failure include: shortness of breath, swelling in feet, ankles and legs, and extreme tiredness.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
The most common type and leading cause of heart attacks, people with CAD have hard and narrow arteries, making it difficult for the heart to get all the blood it needs. CAD can lead to:

• Angina—Chest pain or discomfort caused by the heart not getting enough blood.  It may feel like a pressing or squeezing pain, often in the chest, but pain is sometimes in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back. It can also feel like indigestion.  Angina is not a heart attack, but having angina means you are more likely to have a heart attack.
• Heart attack—Severe or complete blockage of the arteries causing the heart to not get the blood it needs for more than 20 minutes. Having heart disease doesn't automatically mean you'll have a heart attack, but it does mean you need to take extra care of yourself.

Risk Factors, Symptoms

Both men and women can have heart disease but more women who suffer heart attacks die from them. The chance of developing heart disease increases with age, but women of all ages should take steps to prevent heart disease.

African-American and Hispanic/Latina women are more likely to get heart disease because they tend to have more risk factors such as obesity, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, and diabetes than other ethnic groups of women.

Heart disease often has no symptoms, but watch for:

• Chest or arm pain or discomfort (sign of both heart disease and heart attack)
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Abnormal heartbeats
• Extreme tiredness

Contact your doctor if you notice these symptoms or if you have questions or concerns.

Prevention

You can reduce your chances of getting heart disease by:

• Knowing your blood pressure (and keeping within normal range)
• Not smoking
• Getting tested for diabetes
• Getting your cholesterol and triglyceride levels tested
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Limiting alcohol to one drink a day (one 12-ounce beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or one 1.5-ounce shot of hard liquor)
• Coping with stress in healthy ways (exercise, meditation, yoga, etc.)

Signs of a Heart Attack

If you have any of these symptoms call 911.

Not everyone has all of the warning signs of heart attack.  And sometimes these signs go away and come back, including:

• Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest for more than 20 minutes
• Pain or discomfort lasting more than 20 minutes in other areas of the upper body including the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Other symptoms, such as shortness of breath (feeling like you can't get enough air), breaking out in sweat, nausea or feeling faint / woozy

Some women experience vague symptoms like:

• Unusual tiredness
• Trouble sleeping
• Problems breathing
• Indigestion
• Anxiety

Source: National Women's Health Information Center, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, www.womenshealth.gov, 800-994-9662

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