Heart Care Designed With Women in Mind
Cardiovascular conditions can keep you from achieving your goals, feeling your best and living the life you love. Since nearly 80% of cardiovascular disease in women is preventable, we’re here to support every woman in living a heart-healthy life.
We’re here to help you find the right physician or a location that’s convenient for you.
Know Your Heart Attack Risk and Take Control of Your Health
- Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
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Since women may experience different symptoms than men, it’s even more critical to stay informed so you or a loved one get the care you need when every second matters.
Keep these key differences in mind when it comes to heart attack symptoms in women:
- Women are more likely to have pain and numbness on the right side of their chest and arms
- Women may feel completely exhausted, drained, dizzy or nauseous
- Women may feel upper back pain that travels up into their jaw
- Women may think their stomach pain is the flu, heartburn or an ulcer
It’s also important to keep in mind the “traditional” symptoms associated with heart attacks:
- Cold sweats
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
- Shortness of breath
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing or fullness in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
If you’re concerned about symptoms you or a loved one are experiencing, call 911. Heart attacks are a medical emergency and every second counts.
Physicians, nurses and cardiologists would much rather see you in the emergency department and give you a clean bill of health than see you in an exam room with heart damage from an untreated heart attack.
- Heart Attack Symptoms in Young Women
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Recently, studies have shown that young women under age 55 are less likely to seek care for a heart attack. One study found three main obstacles to women getting immediate care:
- Women attributed symptoms to another condition, like the flu
- Women believed they were too young to have a heart attack
- Women experienced atypical symptoms that lasted more than one day
The heart attack symptoms in young women are different than men. At the AdventHealth Cardiovascular Institute, our team has experience identifying and diagnosing heart attacks — no matter your age or gender.
It’s important to pay attention to your body and don’t brush off concerning symptoms. If you’re not sure, contact your medical provider or call 911 right away.
- Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke
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A heart attack isn’t the only risk that can come with cardiovascular disease in women. You may also be at higher risk for stroke. Women and men diagnosed with coronary heart disease, angina or who have had a heart attack caused by atherosclerosis, may be twice as likely to have a stroke.
Remember: “Be Fast” when it comes to recognizing the signs of a stroke and getting prompt medical attention for better outcomes:
B - Balance
- Are you having trouble with balance or coordination?
E – Eyes
- Are you experiencing suddenly blurred or double vision, or loss of vision?
F – Face
- When you smile, does one or both sides of your face droop?
A – Arm Weakness
- Can you raise both arms without one drifting downward?
S – Speech
- Is your speech slurred or are you having difficulty speaking?
T – Time
- If you or a loved one experience any of these symptoms, it’s time to call 911.
Know Your Heart Disease Risk Factors
Better heart health starts with knowing how your choices affect your overall health. And the first step is understanding your risk for heart disease.
Risk factors for women include:
- Diabetes
- Family history
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Inactivity
- Inflammatory disease
- Menopause
- Mental stress and depression
- Obesity
- Pregnancy complications
- Smoking
While you may not be able to control all your risk factors — like family history of early heart attack or heart disease — you can make healthy changes to improve your heart health, including:
- Eating a heart-healthy diet
- Exercising 30 minutes each day
- Finding ways to reduce or manage your stress
- Following your treatment plan, including taking medications as prescribed
- Managing chronic conditions
- Regular check-ups with your primary care provider or cardiologist (if needed)
Our team at the AdventHealth Cardiovascular Institute can help you assess your risk and get you on a path to a stronger body, mind and spirit.
Understanding Women’s Heart Attack Symptoms vs. Anxiety
We’ve all experienced moments of anxiety and even panic. Your heart starts racing. You start to sweat. You might even feel nauseated. But, how do you know if it’s an anxiety attack or something more serious, like a heart attack?
The biggest difference is often time. Chest pain and symptoms brought on by a panic attack or anxiety attack tend to improve in about 20 minutes. A heart attack will continue to get worse. During a panic attack, you’re also more likely to experience a racing heart rate, shakiness and even tingling in the hands.
If you think you’re having a panic attack, try the following steps to improve your symptoms:
- Deep breathing
- Grounding techniques
- Light exercise
- Talking to friends and family
But it’s important to seek help if you think you may be having a heart attack. Even if it’s a panic attack, a health care professional can help you find ways to manage your anxiety and work through a panic attack if it happens again.
Guiding You to a Stronger Heart and Better Health
The cardiologists at the AdventHealth Cardiovascular Institute understand the health needs of busy women. We have some of the top heart doctors in the Greater Tampa area with convenient hours and locations so you can get the quality care you need.