Khanyisile Nkosi
Khanyisile Nkosi
Statistics show that an average of 480 South African women die from cardiovascular disease a year and that one in four will suffer from heart disease before the age of 60.
WOMEN AND HEART DISEASE FACTS
l Heart disease does not only affect older women. It is the leading cause of death for women aged 35 and older.
l Heart disease kills six times as many women as breast cancer.
l Heart disease has killed more women than men every year since 1984, and the death rate is rising.
l Smoking is the first controllable risk factor for heart disease and contributes to the rising death rate in women from cardiovascular disease.
lWomen often experience milder symptoms than men.
l About one-third of women have atypical symptoms of heart disease with no chest pain at all.
l Heart disease symptoms often go unrecognised and untreated in women.
l Women who have heart attacks are twice as likely as men to die within the first few weeks after the incident.
HEART DISEASE SYMPTOMS
l An uneasy feeling in the chest.
l Pain in the shoulder or jaw.
l Abdominal pain.
l A fluttering heartbeat.
l Shortness of breath.
l Fatigue.
l Nausea.
l Dizziness.
l Fainting.
l Swollen feet.
HOW TO PREVENT HEART DISEASE
Know your family history. If your father or any male family member had a stroke or heart attack before the age of 55, or your mother or any female member before the age of 65, your risk of developing heart disease is increased.
Follow a healthy, balanced diet low in saturated fats and high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Quit smoking.
Prevent heart attack by living sensibly
Khanyisile Nkosi
Khanyisile Nkosi
Statistics show that an average of 480 South African women die from cardiovascular disease a year and that one in four will suffer from heart disease before the age of 60.
WOMEN AND HEART DISEASE FACTS
l Heart disease does not only affect older women. It is the leading cause of death for women aged 35 and older.
l Heart disease kills six times as many women as breast cancer.
l Heart disease has killed more women than men every year since 1984, and the death rate is rising.
l Smoking is the first controllable risk factor for heart disease and contributes to the rising death rate in women from cardiovascular disease.
lWomen often experience milder symptoms than men.
l About one-third of women have atypical symptoms of heart disease with no chest pain at all.
l Heart disease symptoms often go unrecognised and untreated in women.
l Women who have heart attacks are twice as likely as men to die within the first few weeks after the incident.
HEART DISEASE SYMPTOMS
l An uneasy feeling in the chest.
l Pain in the shoulder or jaw.
l Abdominal pain.
l A fluttering heartbeat.
l Shortness of breath.
l Fatigue.
l Nausea.
l Dizziness.
l Fainting.
l Swollen feet.
HOW TO PREVENT HEART DISEASE
Know your family history. If your father or any male family member had a stroke or heart attack before the age of 55, or your mother or any female member before the age of 65, your risk of developing heart disease is increased.
Follow a healthy, balanced diet low in saturated fats and high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Quit smoking.