The terrible part is heart attacks may be preventable in some cases. Sadly, signs and symptoms of heart attacks in women are often overlooked. Women and even their doctors brush symptoms off as “anxiety,” or “all in their head.” However, the same lack of concern is not shown for men when they present with symptoms characteristic of a heart attack.

It’s time that we take matters into our own hands. Unfortunately, a lot women do not survive their first heart attack. As women it is extremely important that we are able to recognize the signs and symptoms of heart disease, as well as ways to prevent it.

It’s especially important at this time of year – winter. Being outside in the cold, and especially shoveling snow puts a huge stress on your heart. Snow is heavy. I recently learned that on a day of heavy to medium snow fall the average driveway can have up to two tons of snow on it! Second of all, shoveling is cardiovascular, which raises your heart rate and blood pressure. Plus, the frigid winter air causes blood vessels to constrict allowing less oxygen to go to the heart. Combine the two and it is a recipe for disaster.

It’s important to keep all of these things in mind when it comes to your cardiovascular health. Every minute a woman dies from heart disease. Please don’t be another statistic. Get control of your health today! To learn even more on women’s heart health you can check out my interview for the Women’s Mind Body Wellness Summit with Dr. Joan Crawford. She is an Osteopath who specializes in women’s cardiovascular health. She is an advocate for women and has even worked on the Go Red campaign!

The post It’s Time to Get Serious About Your Heart Health appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

Dr. Joan Crawford, D.O., is the Medical Director for Go Red for Women, American Heart Association Greater Detroit Area. She also is the Director of the Women’s Program at St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospitals and is the Director of Cardiac CT angiography, Non-Invasive Laboratory, Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Pacemaker Clinic at St. John Macomb-Oakland, Oakland Center.

When Dr. Crawford was 15-years-old, she had the opportunity to serve as an intern in a hospital and was able to watch an open-heart surgery. From that point, she knew what she wanted to do.

She taught us about heart disease, how it affects women, and what symptoms to watch for—which may not be what you expect. Did you know pain in the back between your shoulder blades can be a symptom of heart disease? I didn’t.

One piece of advice from Dr. Crawford was to watch for a change in yourself. If there is something that you usually can do and suddenly have trouble doing it, tell your doctor.

She explained how stress impacts heart health and how to set yourself up for a healthy lifestyle. There was so much to learn in my discussion with Dr. Crawford.

You can see our discussion and receive a printable list of the key takeaways and quotes by purchasing the 6-day summit video collection at 50% off for a limited time! Buy it now for only $7.50 with promo BEWELL at checkout!

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What’s even more scary, is women are often times misdiagnosed after reporting their symptoms to a doctor. In fact, due to prejudices, their signs are often brushed off as anxiety or depression, so they are not receiving proper treatment because they are being misdiagnosed. Therefore, it is important to know the signs and symptoms of heart disease in women, the risk factors, who it effects, and how to improve your odds.

Do you have chronic jaw, neck and upper back pain? Unexplained nausea or vomiting? Dizziness or lightheadedness? Unexplained fatigue? Right arm pain? These may seem like minor aches and pains, but one or any of these symptoms could be a sign that you may have heart problems. Don’t brush these symptoms under the rug. If you experiencing any of these problems, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Many other diseases and risk factors can increase your odds of developing cardiovascular disease. Women who smoke are at an increased risk for heart attack and stroke, those who have diabetes are more susceptible to cardiac issues, as well as those with high stress levels.

Contrary to popular belief, heart disease does not only affect older people. Heart disease does not discriminate against age, race, religion or gender. You are never too young to have a heart attack.

How can you decrease your odds? First, hit the pavement. Walking just 30 minutes a day is all you need. Those who are physically active sharply decrease their odds of stroke and heart attack.

Second, if you smoke, quit now. Cigarettes are filled with harmful chemicals and smoking increases your blood pressure and can lead to high cholesterol.

Third, find ways to reduce your stress. Start meditating, or find a positive way to focus your energy.

Fourth, make sure you’re getting eight hours of sleep. Your body needs that time to rest and refuel, and without that time it can put added stress on you.

Fifth, maintain a healthy weight. Women who carry around excess weight are at an increased risk of heart disease.

Heart disease doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Getting informed and being proactive can help save your life or the lives of those around you.

For more healthcare news and tips daily follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.

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Some people age very well. You would never know they are in their 50s let alone their 60s. A few celebrities come to mind when thinking about aging, I’m talking about you, Cindy Crawford. However, most of us probably won’t be as fortunate to age that gracefully, until now. Dr. Eric Topol and his team at the Scripps Translational Science Institute are delving deep into the study of healthy aging. Their study focuses on the people and populations who seem to be immune to age related disorders such as heart disease, cancer, and dementia. And they are making great strides in identifying genetic factors associated with aging.

• These are the genes behind healthy aging

Low carb, no carb, high fat, low fat. All of this diet advice can get so confusing! And it seems to change on a weekly basis. This can make it difficult to stick to a healthy eating plan. However, new research has shown one dietary change that seems to hold true. And that is, FIBER! How much fiber do you eat in a day? The recommended dietary allowances (RDA) of fiber is around 35 grams per day for adults. Find out how increasing your fiber intake can help you reach your weight loss goals.

• One basic diet change may be all you need to be healthier at any age

Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death among women. Yet many of us are uneducated as to the signs and symptoms, as well as the preventative measures they could we could be taking. Don’t be another statistic, start combating heart disease today. P.S. Remember how we just talked about fiber? Consuming adequate amounts of dietary fiber significantly reduce your risk for heart disease.

• 7 heart disease facts women need to know

Endless hours on the treadmill? No, thank you. We all know the heart healthy benefits of regular cardiovascular activity, but often times workouts can be grueling. And we only have a short window of time to squeeze in a workout each day. So why not do something quick and effective? High intensity interval training, more commonly known as HIIT, packs a big punch in a small amount of time. HIIT increases excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), known by some as the after burn. This will not only leave you glowing but allow your body to torch calories up to 36 hours post exercise! Stop making excuses, add a HITT routine to your workout regimen once or twice a week and you’ll starting seeing results before you know it.

• How can a HIIT help you get fit?

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my latest offering in dealing with unexpected healthcare: When Life Happens: What to do about unexpected health concerns. This is a bit different than my other books. When Life Happens is a workbook filled with information, tips, and tricks for getting through accidents, difficult diagnoses, rehabilitation, and what to do with the kids through it all. But it also has activities to guide you through your situation. You can find it here.

For more healthcare news and tips daily follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.

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