How Women's Heart Attacks Are Different Than Men's - Page 2 of 2 - BlackDoctor.org

…women are referred less often for cardiac rehabilitation. When they are referred, they are less likely than men to go or to finish it.

For men and women, chest pain or discomfort is the most common heart attack symptom, but women are more likely to report shortness of breath, back or jaw pain, and nausea and vomiting.

Black women of any age have a higher incidence of heart attacks than white women. And black and Hispanic women have more risk factors such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure at the time of heart attack compared to white women.

The new statement “provides a comprehensive review of current knowledge and key directions needed to further reduce death and disability,” said Fonarow.

This new AHA statement was needed, agreed Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, director of Women’s Heart Health at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “It is time that both the medical community and women address these issues and understand that open communication and awareness are critical to changing these statistics,” she said.

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Mehta stressed that women need to “know their numbers” — including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, body mass index (BMI, a ratio of weight to height) and waist circumference. “Take action to keep these numbers in the normal ranges,” she advised.

“Lead an active, healthy lifestyle and be accountable for your decisions,” she added. “This includes exercising on a regular basis, following a healthy diet and not smoking.”