Did you know heart disease kills a woman every 80 seconds in the United States? That's twice the rate of men. And women of color are more likely to die from heart disease
Launching a new national PSA campaign, the Women's Heart Alliance, a non-profit founded by Barbra Streisand, with Dr. Noel Bairey Merz and Dr. Holly Andersen, Women's Heart Alliance Medical Director as advisors, seeks to raise awareness about misdiagnosis and empower women to recognize symptoms and advocate for themselves.
"It's important to know that heart disease is the number one killer of women in this country, and death rates due to heart disease are now increasing. And it's increasing the fastest among young women aged 29 to 45," said Dr. Andersen.
Heart attacks in women don't always present with chest pain. 40% of the time, women do not experience chest pain with a heart attack. Instead, they may experience jaw, throat, back, or neck pain, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, nausea or vomiting, or even a feeling of heartburn or indigestion.
"People typically know something's wrong, and we want them to think that it could be their heart. And if they think it is, to get attention, to get you to the emergency room where we can help them," emphasized Dr. Andersen. "If you think you're having a heart attack, call 911. Make sure that people are listening to you and taking you seriously."
But it's not just about recognizing the signs of a heart attack. The Women's Heart Alliance wants women to be empowered with knowledge of the risk factors for heart disease and what to do to reduce their risk. This includes understanding that 80% of heart disease is preventable and knowing the risk factors such as elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, as well as the impact of lifestyle factors like smoking, physical activity, and stress reduction.
"We want women to be appreciative of this, to know that they are at risk because awareness of this has gone down in this country despite two decades of a national campaign," said Dr. Andersen.
You can find out more at getheartchecked.org.
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