Friday is Dress Red Day. In the Netherlands, many people wear red clothing on this day to draw attention to cardiovascular disease in women. This is desperately needed because cardiovascular disease is not always recognized in this group. Cardiologists from Treant have listed six facts and myths.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women: fact
In many developed countries, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women. It is even more deadly than cancer.
Cardiovascular disease mainly affects older women: a myth
Women of all ages can develop cardiovascular disease. So it is important to pay attention to heart health at all ages. The risk of cardiovascular disease does increase as you get older.
Symptoms of a heart attack in women may be different than in men: fact
When you think of a heart attack, you quickly think of chest pain. That can certainly happen, but it is not always the case with women. Women often experience more vague complaints, such as nausea, pain in the upper abdomen, jaw, neck, back or shoulder blades. These vague complaints arise because the small blood vessels in the heart calcify more evenly in women. As a result, you do not immediately think of a problem with the heart.
Heart complaints in women are often confused with menopausal complaints: fact
Women sometimes think that their complaints are due to menopause, while they actually have to do with their heart or high blood pressure. This includes hot flashes, palpitations, sweating, extreme fatigue and poor sleep. Do your complaints last a long time? Does cardiovascular disease run in your family? Then discuss this with your doctor. Even if you have had gestational diabetes, high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in the past, it is important to be extra alert.
Treant has a special heart clinic for women: fact
Since 2020, Treant has had a heart clinic for women at hospital locations Bethesda in Hoogeveen and Refaja in Stadskanaal. Treant is one of the few locations in the North where there is a special outpatient clinic for women. Cardiologists Marloes van der Wielen and Ganiye Sahin conduct the studies on women. During an appointment at the heart clinic, there is sufficient time to discuss complaints in detail. If treatment is needed, this can also be done at Treant.
You can’t do anything to prevent cardiovascular disease: myth
There are risk factors over which you have no influence, such as poorly functioning kidneys or diabetes. You can do a lot about other risk factors yourself. Quitting smoking, for example. But also exercise more, eat healthier, deal with stress better and don’t drink too much alcohol. A healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
2023-09-29 15:35:00
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