Preventing heart disease in women

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - It's a life-saving message to all women.

"Heart disease is their number one killer," said Mary Ann Burns of the Western Massachusetts Chapter of the American Heart Association.  

It’s a message many still haven't heard.

Burns explained, “Most women don't even know they are even at risk, they feel maybe breast cancer or other forms of cancer are the number one killer but it's actually cardiovascular disease."

Women are just as likely as men to suffer from heart disease but Dr. Daniel Engelman a cardiac surgeon at Baystate Medical Center told 22News diagnosing it in women is more challenging.

He explained, “"The problem for diagnosing women is that symptoms are different from men, symptoms for men are chest pain, arm pain but in women it includes nausea, vomiting, sweating dizziness, being extra tired and because of that women are less likely to call their physicians." 

That means women are less likely to get treated for a heart attack quickly and the later the diagnosis the greater the risk you won't recover.

"Over 450,000 women a year die from heart disease and it’s mostly preventable," said Burns.

There are some simple lifestyle changes that can help you prevent heart disease:

• Moderate Exercise
• Low-fat Diet
• Control High Blood Pressure & Cholesterol
• Quit Smoking