women and heart health
The first Friday of February is National Wear Red Day, a day when many people wear red to raise awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death for Americans. In fact, one in five deaths among women in the United States is caused by heart disease. Celebrate Wear Red Day by learning about heart health, heart disease, and ways to protect your heart.
What is heart disease?
Heart disease refers to different types of heart disease. One example is a heart attack, which occurs when a plaque or blood clot blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. The other type is coronary artery disease, which occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries. Some believe that heart disease primarily affects men. However, women are just as likely to suffer from heart disease as men.
Heart disease research and the FDA
Women’s heart health is important to the FDA. Since 1994, FDA’s Office of Women’s Health (OWH) has helped fund research on women’s heart disease. This study provided new insights into heart disease and how different treatments and their effects differ for men and women. It also led to knowledge about how certain treatment devices work for women living with heart disease.
What are the risk factors for heart disease in women?
Some risk factors for heart disease are inherited in families, while others are due to lifestyle factors. Here are some common risk factors for heart disease.
- Diabetes
- smoking
- obesity
- menopause
- high cholesterol
- high blood pressure
- Family history of early-onset heart disease
Read more about common risk factors for heart disease in women.
What are the signs of heart disease?
Heart disease is sometimes known as a silent disease and may not be diagnosed until other symptoms or an emergency situation such as a heart attack occurs. Know the signs of a heart attack. For women, the signs may be the same as for men, or they may be different.
- Severe pain in the chest or back between the shoulder blades
- sharp pain in upper body
- shortness of breath
- Cold sweat comes out
- nausea
- Unusual or unexplained fatigue
- Feeling dizzy or light-headed
- I feel sick to my stomach
If you experience any of the above symptoms, please contact your healthcare provider for medical advice. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1.
How can I keep my heart healthy?
Learn about heart health. Please watch this video first.
Reduce risk of heart disease By becoming more aware of your own personal risk factors. This includes age, race, ethnicity, and current health status. Talk to your health care provider about any medications you are currently taking and the risks. Finally, make sure to manage your current health condition properly. For example, high blood pressure can increase your risk of heart disease.
Ask your doctor about using aspirin. Aspirin is not suitable for everyone. You can also get facts about taking aspirin from the FDA’s Heart Health fact sheet resource.
Consider habits that promote heart health. Aim to maintain a healthy weight. Regular physical activity and eating heart-healthy foods are good ways to start. Use the FDA’s Nutrition Facts label to guide your heart-healthy food choices. If you are a current smoker, quitting smoking is beneficial for your heart health. Learn more with the FDA’s booklet on medicines that can help you quit smoking.
maternal heart health
Each year, approximately 700 women in the United States die from pregnancy-related problems and more than 50,000 women have life-threatening pregnancy complications. Heart disease is the main cause.
The main risk factors for pregnancy-related heart problems include age, race, ethnicity, and pre-existing health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. If you’re planning a pregnancy or are pregnant, talk to your health care provider about the risks and ways to better protect your and your baby’s heart health. Read more about the warning signs for moms.
Women in clinical trials
Clinical trials are studies that inform the safety of a treatment and its effectiveness. Women of all ages, health conditions, races, and ethnic backgrounds can volunteer in clinical trials. This helps inform research areas such as heart disease. It could also lead to treatments that are safe and effective for all women. Learn how to participate in a clinical trial.
There are now several ways to make better decisions about your heart health. First, you can make lifestyle changes to maintain heart health. You can also take the time to learn more about your risks. These are just a few steps you can take to live a more heart-healthy life every day.
Related Links
Check out the following resources provided by our office and federal partners:
For resources and materials on other women’s health topics, visit www.fda.gov/womens.
