Dealing with Diabetes
Do women have heart attacks?

Ask women how they expect to die and many imagine they'll die from breast cancer. Few would probably picture a heart attack. But for every woman who dies of breast cancer, six women die of heart disease! Beyond age 65, it kills more women than all cancers combined. Heart disease is the leading killer of American women.

During a heart attack the heart is deprived of circulation and suffers from lack of o x y g e n . Blockage of the arteries causes this. Arteries carry blood to the h e a r t . Smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and lack of exercise cause the arteries to clog.

When we say the words "heart attack," we usually picture a man clutching his chest and loosening his collar. We don't picture a w o m a n , squirming with pain between her shoulders, short of breath and clammy. Women and their doctors often forget that women are equally prone to heart disease. But some women may not have the same symptoms men have.

Sure, heart attacks can cause chest pain that might come and go, feeling like pressure or tightness. But the pain could also be in the arm, the back, or the jaw, teeth or neck. You might instead feel weak, tired or short of breath. Or you may feel sweaty, nauseated, or dizzy. Symptoms might come on with physical exertion or even during emotional stress. They may ease back if you stop a strenuous activity, only to return when you resume it. The temptation is to blame your nerves or indigestion. But this is no time for antacids and no time for procrastination. Another problem for women is that they often neglect their own needs, if someone else's needs seem more pressing. Women hate to be "complainers." They may have been dismissed by medical personnel in the past for vague symptoms, so they tend to delay and explain away their fears to themselves and to others.

Time is c r u c i a l though with h e a r t a t t a c k s . the hospital quickly is so important. The sooner you're diagnosed and treated, the b e t t e r . B e n e f i t s include less damage to the heart and less chance of dying. A woman you know might c o n f r o n t this unexpectedly. If some day a f r i e n d "looks bad" to you (pale or sweaty) and complains of feeling bad, get her to the hospital as fast as possible. She might object, not wanting to be a bother. This is no time to reassure her that it's probably nothing. Follow your instincts. Once the thought occurs to you that you should call 911, you should already be on the phone! Even medical people forget that heart disease is the leading killer of women, and may tend to brush you off when they see you. Insist on being checked for heart disease. Remind the doctor of your family history and risk factors, like high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, tobacco. Ideally, they'll take you very seriously and maybe save your life!

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