On February 13th , Wear Red to raise awareness about women’s heart health in Canada. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women worldwide and it affects women of all ages. That means 1 in 3 women will die as a result of heart disease or stroke.
Despite this, women are under-diagnosed, under-treated, under-studied when it comes to heart disease. Women and their health care providers are also under-aware about their risk factors and the common signs and symptoms of heart disease in women.
Heart attacks go unrecognized in women up to 54% of the time. When in doubt, check it out! NEVER delay getting help for your symptoms. Be sure to ask your doctor if your symptoms could be heart-related. Women’s heart attack symptoms can be different from men’s and often include:
- chest pain or discomfort
- pain in your back, neck, jaw or arm
- stomach pain
- shortness of breath, nausea
- sweating
- unusual fatigue
Heart disease is largely preventable - 80% of risk factors are within your control to change! Know your numbers for waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Reduce your risk by:
- exercising for at least 30 minutes a day
- maintaining a healthy diet
- watching your weight
- getting regular checkups if possible
- stopping smoking
- managing stress
- limiting alcohol intake
Visit Wear Red Canada for more information.