Women experience different symptoms than men when having a heart attack
Here are some of the diseases and illnesses you may want to discuss with your doctor if you feel you may be at risk.
Diabetes
Did you know? About half (48 per cent) of women surveyed believe both men and women are experiencing the same rise in occurrence of Type 2 diabetes.
Fact: Women between the ages of 20 and 50 are experiencing the biggest rise in diabetes incidence.
There are several risk factors that can determine whether a woman could get Type 2 diabetes, including genetic factors and certain lifestyle choices. While you can't do anything about genetic factors, according to the Canadian Diabetes Association, scientists believe that lifestyle changes can help prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
Examples of lifestyle changes include:
-Exercising and being active
-Maintaining a healthy body weight
-Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and low in processed foods and sugars
Women who have had gestational diabetes are also at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
For more information on diabetes, go to the Canadian Diabetes Association's site.
Heart disease and heart attacks
Did you know? Only one-third (36 per cent) of Canadian women are aware that sudden pain in the chest, arm, neck, jaw or back are not always the most common symptoms for a woman suffering a heart attack.
Fact: 43 per cent of women report unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting during a heart attack -- not chest pain.
Women need to understand they are more likely to have atypical symptoms of a heart attack than men, says Dr. Martin who cautions that some people with diabetes can have a heart attack and not even know it. So it's important for people with diabetes to hit their blood sugar targets and control cholesterol.
Furthermore, according to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women.
Women can have completely asymptomatic heart disease such as clogged arteries, says Dr. Martin. If you have a family history of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and if you smoke, are overweight and sedentary, you're at risk and you need to talk to your doctor, she says.
For more information about heart disease and heart attacks, visit the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada's website.
Click to continue and learn more about depression, arthritis and cancer...
Page 2 of 3
Diabetes
Did you know? About half (48 per cent) of women surveyed believe both men and women are experiencing the same rise in occurrence of Type 2 diabetes.
Fact: Women between the ages of 20 and 50 are experiencing the biggest rise in diabetes incidence.
There are several risk factors that can determine whether a woman could get Type 2 diabetes, including genetic factors and certain lifestyle choices. While you can't do anything about genetic factors, according to the Canadian Diabetes Association, scientists believe that lifestyle changes can help prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
Examples of lifestyle changes include:
-Exercising and being active
-Maintaining a healthy body weight
-Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and low in processed foods and sugars
Women who have had gestational diabetes are also at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
For more information on diabetes, go to the Canadian Diabetes Association's site.
Heart disease and heart attacks
Did you know? Only one-third (36 per cent) of Canadian women are aware that sudden pain in the chest, arm, neck, jaw or back are not always the most common symptoms for a woman suffering a heart attack.
Fact: 43 per cent of women report unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting during a heart attack -- not chest pain.
Women need to understand they are more likely to have atypical symptoms of a heart attack than men, says Dr. Martin who cautions that some people with diabetes can have a heart attack and not even know it. So it's important for people with diabetes to hit their blood sugar targets and control cholesterol.
Furthermore, according to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women.
Women can have completely asymptomatic heart disease such as clogged arteries, says Dr. Martin. If you have a family history of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and if you smoke, are overweight and sedentary, you're at risk and you need to talk to your doctor, she says.
For more information about heart disease and heart attacks, visit the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada's website.
Click to continue and learn more about depression, arthritis and cancer...
Page 2 of 3
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