[Press Release] : Heart Disease: #1 Killer of American Women

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Chris Coffman, Public Health Nurse Supervisor - (573)
874-7453, jccoffma at GoColumbiaMo.com or Christy Thompson, R.N. - (573)
874-6319, CMThomps at GoColumbiaMo.com 

Heart Disease: #1 Killer of American Women

COLUMBIA, MO (February 18, 2008) - As American Heart Month continues,
the Columbia/Boone County Health Department wants to educate women in
the community on the dangers of heart attacks. According to the National
Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Women account for nearly half of
all heart attack deaths.

There are differences in how women and men respond to heart attacks.
Women are less likely than men to believe they’re having a heart
attack and more likely to delay in seeking emergency treatment.
According to the NHLBI, delay in treatment can mean more damage to the
heart.

The NHLBI also sites that women tend to be about 10 years older than
men when they have a heart attack. They are also more likely to have
other conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and congestive
heart failure - making it all the more vital that they get proper
treatment fast.

Heart attack symptoms women need to be aware of include:
● Chest discomfort - Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the
center of the chest that can last a few minutes. This discomfort can
feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
● Body discomfort - Other areas of the upper body can also experience
pain. This can be in the back, neck, jaw, stomach and in one or both
arms.
● Shortness of breath - Breathing difficulty often coincides with
chest discomfort, but it can actually occur before chest discomfort.
● Additional symptoms - Heart attacks can also cause cold sweats,
nausea or light headedness.

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain
and discomfort. But according to NHLBI, women are somewhat more likely
than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly
shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. If a person
thinks he/she is experiencing heart attack symptoms; he/she needs to
immediately call 911.

The Columbia/Boone County Health Department has brochures from the
American Heart Association that are on display in the front entranceway
of the Health Department. The Columbia/Boone County Health Department
offers free blood pressure screenings to any Boone County resident. For
citizens who are interested in learning more, the Health Department has
information online at www.GoColumbiaMo.com.

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