Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Cardiovascular disease is a condition that is not restricted to a man alone. It is in fact the number one fatal disease killing women above twenty years of age in America irrespective of ethnicity or race. The irony is that the death rate of cardiovascular disease in men has decreased but has now begun to show a rise in women.

Cardiovascular disease in women is mainly caused due to a condition called atherosclerosis, which refers to the condition when the arteries get clogged or hardened. This is a result of cholesterol building up from within and fatty deposits accumulating in the inside arterial walls. This stops the flow of blood to the heart and without enough blood; the heart gets depleted with oxygen. Most of the vital nutrients also decrease and this is what results in the state called angina. When one or more of the arteries get blocked completely, then the person normally suffers from a heart attack.

Symptoms of any cardiovascular diseases in women are unusually rapid heartbeats, nausea, and shortness of breath. If any of these symptoms occur, the person has to be taken to the doctor immediately.

Angina pectoris is the most common symptom of cardiovascular disease in women. It shows itself in the form of heaviness in the chest, discomfort, pressure, and tightness accompanied with numbness, burning, aching and squeezing. Sometimes women feel they are suffering from a heartburn or indigestion and this is sometimes felt in the jaw, neck, back, left shoulder and the chest mainly. Symptoms also include dizziness, nausea, and extreme sweating. It is important that the women realize she is suffering from something serious and take medical help instantly.

Thus, cardiovascular disease in women is very common ways to show that there is something wrong with the heart. It is best that the symptoms are recognized immediately and proper action taken towards this.