Heart disease is the number one killer of American women. Heart disease is a group of diseases of the heart and the blood vessel system in the heart. Coronary artery disease, the most common type, affects the blood vessels of the heart. It can cause angina (an-JEYE-nuh) or a heart attack. Angina is a pain in the chest that happens when the heart does not get enough blood. It may feel like a pressing or squeezing pain, often in the chest, but sometimes in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Having angina means you're more likely to have a heart attack. A heart attack happens when a clot mostly or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle.
Signs of a heart attack:
Chest discomfort — pressure, squeezing, or pain
Shortness of breath
Discomfort in the upper body — arms, shoulder, neck, back
Women can also have less common symptoms, including:
Unusual tiredness
Trouble sleeping
Problems breathing
Indigestion (upset stomach)
Anxiety (feeling uneasy or worried)
If you think you are having a heart attack, you must act quickly to prevent disability or death. Wait no more than a few minutes — five at most — before calling 911.
American Indians and Alaska Natives have a very high risk of heart disease. They also die from heart disease at younger ages than other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Native women have high rates of diabetes, overweight and obesity, and high blood pressure, which are factors that increase heart disease risk. What's more, many American Indian and Alaska Native women smoke cigarettes and/or are physically inactive — both which also raise heart disease risk.
You have the power to fight heart disease! Read on for some tips to keep your heart healthy.
Keep a healthy weight.
Make physical activity a habit. Health benefits are gained by doing the following each week:
2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or
1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity or
A combination of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity and
Muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days of the week
Eat heart-healthy foods. Eat whole-grain foods, vegetables, and fruit. Choose lean meats and low-fat cheese and dairy products. Limit foods that have lots of saturated fat, like butter, whole milk, baked goods, ice cream, fatty meats, and cheese.
Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) and blood glucose (sugar). Follow your doctor's orders to keep your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels under control.
Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. For help along the way, check out our Quitting Smoking section.
Heart Disease Fact Sheet - This fact sheet on women and heart disease includes information about risk factors, prevention, and treatment of heart disease.
Make the Call, Don't Miss a Beat - Not all women have chest discomfort or other common symptoms during their heart attack. Use this website to learn more about the symptoms of a heart attack in women and what to do if you think you are experiencing a heart attack.
American Indian and Alaska Native People: Be Active for Your Heart! - Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives. This website offers insight about how to keep your heart healthy by staying active and explains the benefits of staying active, ranging from weight loss to strengthening your heart and lungs.
American Indian and Alaska Native People: Treat Your Heart to a Healthy Celebration! - Proper nutrition is your way to a healthy heart. This document provides insight on eating the right kinds of foods to improve and maintain your health. It offers a list of foods, as well as ways for preparing them, to ensure healthy eating. Lean cut beef, fish, corn, and rice are all tasty examples of a healthy diet.
http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/FactSheets/treat.htm
American Indian and Alaska Native Women's Health - This site offers information for health service providers and consumers about American Indian and Alaska Native women's health. It discusses cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, cardiovascular disease, and access to care.
American Indian Health - This website is an information portal to information about the health of native peoples of the United States. The topics include cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and environmental health.
Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke Among American Indians and Alaska Natives - The Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke Among American Indians and Alaska Natives is the fourth in a series of CDC atlases related to cardiovascular disease. However, it is the first to focus on geographic patterns of heart disease and stroke mortality and risk factors for a specific racial/ethnic group in the United States. The Atlas provides insights into the geographic disparities in heart disease and stroke experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Heart Truth for Women: An Action Plan - Good news! Heart disease is a problem you can do something about. This fact sheet will help you find out your personal risk of heart disease. Then, it will show you how to take steps to improve your heart health and reduce your chances of developing heart disease.
A federal government website managed by the
Office on Women's Health
in the
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
at the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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