Traditionally heart disease was thought of as a man’s disease. Many women tend not to give it much thought. "It could never happen to me," some women say. Unfortunately, their thinking is wrong. Sometimes...dead wrong.

The Numbers are Revealing

Each year, heart attacks claim the lives of some 530,000 men and women in the United States. Approximately one half of all fatal heart attacks (about 260,000) are sustained by women! Another 100,000 women die each year from stroke alone. On a larger scale, all heart and blood vessel diseases combined claim more than 512,000 women's lives annually. By comparison, less then 265,00 women perish each year from all forms of cancer.

Heart Care When You Need It

Kettering Medical Center offers the region’s most comprehensive heart care program...from prevention to treatment for many of the most serious heart ailments. Use of advanced technology helps ensure speedy and accurate diagnoses, especially in cases of heart attack when time is critical. And our heart care is provided by dedicated physicians, nurses and other medical professionals in a caring environment. Our Chest Pain Evaluation Centers at Kettering and Sycamore hospitals are designed to provide you with the most advanced diagnosis of chest pain while maintaining comfort and privacy.

Heart Attack: What is it?

A heart attack occurs when the supply of blood to part of the heart muscle itself is closed off completely. It happens because one or more of the coronary arteries that supplies blood to the heart is blocked. This is usually caused by a blood clot. Depending on how long the blood supply is cut off, the muscle cells in that area of the heart may suffer permanent damage or die. Heart attacks result from blood vessel disease in the heart, called coronary artery disease. Diseases of the heart and blood vessels are known as cardiovascular diseases. Other major heart or vascular diseases include stroke (brain attack), rheumatic heart disease and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Heart Attack: Know the Warning Signs

You’ve probably heard about the typical heart attack warning signs. It’s classically described like a "heavy object sitting on your chest." A key warning sign is a pain traveling down the left arm.

These symptoms, however, are typical for middle-aged men and not necessarily for women. According to a number of physicians, women are more likely to have the following symptoms:

• vague abdominal discomfort
• nausea and vomiting, fatigue
• shortness of breath (trouble catching your breath)
• arm and/or chest pain

It’s important that you call 911 if you experience these symptoms, or recognize them in someone else. The sooner you take action with heart attack warning signs, the better your chances of reducing permanent heart muscle damage or even death.

Blood Pressure Guidelines

Preferred Range
120 over 80 or lower
Normal
130 over 85
High Normal
130-139 over 85-89
Source: National Blood Pressure

Ideal Cholesterol Levels*

Total Cholesterol < 200
HDL Cholesterol > 40
LDL Cholesterol < 100
Triglycerides < 150
Ratio: HDL cholesterol to
total cholesterol: < 1 to 4
* National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines

Ideal Weight Chart

Height* Weight** (in pounds)
6’0" 140-184
5"11" 136-179
5’10" 132-174
5’9" 129-169
5’8" 125-164
5’7" 121-160
5’6" 118-155
5’5" 114-150
5’4" 111-146
5’3" 107-141
5’2" 104-137
5’1" 101-132
5’0" 97-128
4’11" 94-124
4’10" 91-119
*No shoes **No clothes
Source: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services


The Estrogen Question

Recommendations on hormone supplements indicate hormone replacement therapy should be limited to primarily treating menopausal symptoms with lower-than-standard doses for the shortest possible time. Current research demonstrates hormone replacement therapy is not helpful in reducing heart disease risk in women and should not be used for prevention of heart disease.

To view a brochure about the risks of heart disease, click here.

To take a short quiz on heart disease, click here.