Signs & Symptoms of Heart Attack in Women
- Chest pain, pressure, squeezing, fullness or discomfort that
lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Unexplained weakness, anxiety, or fatigue without chest pain
- Pressure/pain in upper back, shoulders, neck, arm, or jaw
- Clammy sweats, heart flutters, paleness
- Stomach/abdominal pain
- Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
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Risk Factors for Heart Disease
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Overweight/obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Diabetes
- Family history of early coronary heart disease
- Age (for women, 55 and older)
- Poor nutrition
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Tips for Heart Health
Don’t
smoke, and if you do, quit. Women who smoke are two to six times more
likely to suffer a heart attack than non-smoking women. Smoking also boosts the risk
of stroke and cancer.
Aim
for a healthy weight. It’s important for a long, vigorous life. Overweight
and obesity cause many preventable deaths.
Get
moving. Make a commitment to be more physically active. Aim for 30 minutes
of moderate-intensity activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.
Eat
for heart health. Choose a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and
moderate in total fat that includes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Know
your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total,
LDL, HDL, triglycerides), and blood glucose. Work with your doctor to improve any
numbers that are not normal. |
What
to do if heart attack warning signs occur:
- Call 911 immediately. If the person is not breathing, begin CPR
immediately.
- Insist that hospital staff members take your complaints
seriously, do not make you wait, and give you a thorough cardiac evaluation.
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How to Organize a Successful
Educational Luncheon & Style Show
If you would like us to send you copies of these
materials, please Contact Us. |
QUESTIONS TO ASK
YOUR doctor
Getting answers to these questions
will give you vital information about your heart health and what you can do to improve it.
You may want to bring this list to your doctor’s office.
- What is my risk for heart disease?
- What is my blood pressure? What does it mean for me, and
what do I need to do about it?
- What are my cholesterol numbers? (These include total
cholesterol, LDL or "bad" cholesterol, HDL or "good" cholesterol, and
triglycerides.) What do they mean for me, and what do I need to do about them?
- What are my "body mass index" and waist
measurement? Do they indicate that I need to lose weight for my health?
- What is my blood sugar level, and does it mean I’m
at risk for diabetes?
- What other screening tests for heart disease do I need?
How often should I return for checkups for my heart health?
- What can you do to help me quit smoking?
How much physical activity do I need to help protect my heart?
- What is a heart-healthy eating plan for me? Should I see
a registered dietitian or qualified nutritionist to learn more about healthy eating?
- How can I tell if I’m having a heart attack?
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Campaign Materials
(all document are in  PDF format)
- Tips &
Risks, 124KB
- Quiz &
Questions, 138KB
- Real Women, 234KB
- Red Dress Graph,
182KB
- Heart Truth
Overview, 192KB
- One Red Dress,
96KB
- Action Plan,
216KB
- Women &
Heart Disease, 142KB
- The Heart Truth:
It's Ageless, 152KB
- If You Have
Heart Disease, 375KB
- Dress Diorama,
371KB
- Red Dresses,
172KB
- Heart Healthy
Recipes, 230KB
- Heart Disease
Isn't Pretty, 133KB
- Campaign
Brochure, 183KB
En Español
If you would like multiple copies of any of these materials,
please contact us. |
National
Partners
(all outside links open in a new browser window)
Nebraska Partners
- Cardiovascular Health Program
- Office of Women’s
Health
- Office of Minority Health
- Alegent
Health System
- Aesthetic Surgical Images
- Butler County Health Department
- Central District Health Department
- Clay County Health Department
- Douglas County Health Department
- East Central District Health Department
- Four Corners Health Department
- Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department
- Loup Basin Public Health Department
- North Central District Health Department
- Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department
- Panhandle Public Health District
- Polk County Health Department
- Red Willow County Health Department
- Sandhills District Health Department
- Sarpy/Cass Department of Health & Wellness
- Saunders County Health Department
- Scottsbluff County Health Department
- South Heartland District Health Department
- Southeast District Health Department
- Southwest Public Health Department
- Three Rivers Public Health Department
- Two Rivers Public Health Department
- West Central District Health Department
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The Heart Truth:
