Benedictine Hospital and St. Peter’s Cardiac Center conduct screenings
and public information forums on a regular basis. Our goal is to inform
you of the causes and the treatment of heart disease. The more you know
about heart disease, the better you’ll be prepared to prevent it.
We are happy to provide you with additional copies of this and other
educational materials. We are also available to come to your organization
and make a presentation about heart disease and your health.
Heart disease is the number one killer of women. Almost 500,000 women every year have a myocardial infarction (MI) - a heart attack. An unusually high number die from the attack. One of the reasons for such high mortality rates is that women who experience a heart attack may not have the same symptoms as men and it goes unrecognized.
Women who are having an MI often complain of pain in the back, neck,
and epigastric region as well as nausea and loss of appetite. Women
are also more likely to complain of weakness in the arms, shoulders
and chest area.
Seeking treatment is also an area of concern as women are more likely
than men to delay seeking medical attention after the onset of initial
symptoms, often because of family and social responsibilities.
Risk factors to consider:
Fact: Women typically experience a heart attack eight years later than men and are twice as likely to die after the attack than men.
If you have
the above risk factors and exhibit any of the symptoms, consult your
physician immediately.