It may come as a surprise, but the leading cause of death in women over age 25 isn’t breast cancer. It’s heart disease. In fact, it’s responsible for nearly twice the amount of deaths in American women than all types of cancer, including breast cancer.
Though heart disease is a term used to describe many different conditions affecting the heart, the two most common are heart disease (caused by a build-up of plaque in the arteries that can lead to a heart attack) and heart failure (a weakening of the heart over time as a result of damage from high blood pressure, heart attack or other injury).
Heart attacks: Know the symptoms
Classic symptoms of a heart attack, tightness in the chest, arm pain and shortness of breath, are what most men experience. For women, the top five symptoms are different and include:
- Fatigue
- Trouble sleeping
- Shortness of breath
- Indigestion
- Anxiety
Women are also more likely to experience other symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, back or jaw pain, along with chest pain.
For men and women, the important thing is to recognize the symptoms and get help – call 911 and get to the nearest Emergency Room.
Make an appointment with a McLaren primary care provider to address your heart risk factors at mclaren.org/primarycare.
Learn more about heart attack risk factors and how you can address them with everyday lifestyle changes.