• Women and Peripheral Artery Disease

     
     
     
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    Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition in which blockages form in the blood vessels of your legs. These blockages share the same causes as blockages that form in the coronary arteries and can lead to heart attack and those that form in the carotid arteries in the neck, which can lead to stroke. A fatty substance called plaque builds up over time in the blood vessels and restricts the ability of blood to flow through a vessel.

    According to a brochure from the National Institutes of Health, most people with PAD have no symptoms or their symptoms are unrecognized. Women are more likely than men to have a condition called intermittent claudication, in which blockages in the limbs cause muscle pain during activity but stops during rest.

    Early identification of PAD can prevent serious complications, such as loss of the ability to walk or a need to amputate a foot or leg. Diagnosing PAD early can even save lives. It can help identify women at risk of heart attack or stroke. PAD can be diagnosed with a simple and painless test called the ankle-brachial index (ABI), in which blood pressure at the wrists is compared to that at the ankles. This potentially life saving test can be conducted by a primary care physician.

  • Diagnosis of Heart and Vascular Disease in Women

    As you can see, gauging your overall risk for cardiovascular disease is a challenging proposition, especially if you have multiple risk factors to test for and monitor. If possible, work with your doctor to manage your risks and stay on track with your goals for a heart healthy lifestyle.

    Heart Attack Warning Signs in Women

    When a heart attack strikes, seconds count for everyone, regardless of gender, age, or ethnicity. Any delay in treating your heart attack increases your chances of permanent, irreparable damage to your heart—and, it could cost you your life.

    Myths About Women and Heart Disease

    According to the statement from WIN consensus statement mixed messages from the media, as well as the tendency of the public and health care providers to underestimate the problem, are enormous barriers to heart health in women.

    Pregnancy and Your Heart

    Pregnancy and new motherhood present so much that is new for you to think about that your future heart health may not seem like an immediate priority. However, research is increasingly suggesting that certain complications during pregnancy may be a signal of future heart disease—and problems may be evident as soon as 10 years after pregnancy.

    Prevention of Heart and Vascular Disease in Women

    You likely know by now that more women than men die from heart disease each year. If so, you are a step ahead of many women. According to the American Heart Association, only 1 in 5 women believe that heart disease is their greatest health threat.