Bilma Pellissery

Three weeks ago, a 37 years old nurse died of a heart attack. The only pre-symptom she had was, in her husband’s words, “she threw up once. Since she was tired after vomiting, she wanted to sleep for sometime.. and she went to our Lord in her sleep!” We are familiar with the saying, ‘If I knew this earlier, I could have done something about it.’ Let’s have some insight on the silent killer in women: HEART ATTACK!!

HEART ATTACK

Statistics
Many people are not aware about the fact that heart disease is the number one cause of death in both men and women. Statistics from the American Heart Association show that ONE in FOUR women dies from heart disease in the United States.

What is Heart attack
A heart attack happens when blood flow in an artery to the heart is blocked by a blood clot or fat deposition and the heart muscle begins to die. Women are more likely than men to die after a heart attack because of the non typical symptoms they exhibit. In fact, if you know the symptoms, you can get the help you need, save your life and prevent permanent damage to your heart.

Symptoms
Heart attack symptoms in women are often different from those in men. Following are some of the symptoms:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Heartburn
• Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort
• Cold sweat
• Shortness of breath
• Pain in one or both arms
• Cold sweat
• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
• Unusual fatigue

Modifiable Risk factors for heart attack

• High cholesterol
• High Blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Unhealthy eating
• Lack of exercise
• Stress
• Smoking
• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
• Unusual fatigue

Non Modifiable Risk factors

• Health problems
• Family health history
• Age

How to prevent heart attack
Lifestyle changes or modifications can help us prevent a heart attack. These changes include making healthier food choices, being more physically active, and not smoking. Once you know your heart attack risk factors, you and your doctor can work together to lower your risk by having follow up visits and lifestyle changes. Even if you had a heart attack before, you can still make changes in life to help prevent another one.

LET’S TAKE CARE OF OUR HEARTS..

”ABOVE ALL ELSE, GUARD YOUR HEART, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, FLOWS FROM IT.” (Proverbs 4:23)

The Month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The devotion to the Sacred Heart emphasizes the unmitigated love, all embracing compassion and long suffering of the Heart of Jesus towards humanity. Being mothers, most women tend to attend to the needs of their families and set aside their own health, desires and aspirations. The Sacred Heart of Jesus pierced on the cross, exhorts all mothers to take care of their hearts well, because He paid the price for them by his precious blood. Every heart matters, because every life is invaluable!

References
Heart attack symptoms in Women (2022), retrieved from
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack/heart-attack-symptoms-in-women