Wear Red

Today is National Wear Red day. (And I’m wearing black, but I do have a red purse so that should count for something). February is National Heart Month. So this is a plea for all to take care of their hearts!

Did you know that heart disease is the number 1 killer of women in America? Very few people know this fact and even fewer women know the signs of heart disease. Women experience different symptoms of a heart attack than men. Most of these symptoms are very subtle and many women ignore the signs. Women just don’t take heart health seriously, mostly because heart disease has been considered a “man’s” disease. The truth is one in four women will die of heart disease.

Here are some signs for women to look for:

- Chest pain, but may also be back pain and/or a deep throbbing in one or both arms.
- Breathlessness, especially when waking up.
- Dizziness.
- Fluid retention, especially in the lower legs and ankles.
- Anxiety, a general feeling of doom.
- Feeling of heaviness, such as pressure-like chest pain between the breasts that may radiate to the left arm or shoulder.
- Breaking out in a cold sweat.
- Some women report just being tired.

For more information, go here: www.nhlbi.nih.gov.