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Listen to Your Heart: 3 Subtle Signs of Heart Trouble in Women
When you see someone having a heart attack depicted on television or in a movie, what does it usually look like? Probably a white, middle-aged man, clutching his chest, looking pained. Although men matching that description do have heart disease, so do men of other races, and—this may be surprising—heart disease is the number one cause of death among women.
At A Woman’s Wellspring, our staff, led by Stephanie Taylor, MD, PhD, work to help our patients enjoy the highest level of health possible. Understanding your personal heart risk profile is an important part of maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle. Here, we describe three easy-to-miss signs that may indicate heart issues.
1. Sleeping problems
Good sleep is a crucial component of good health. Getting enough high-quality sleep each night allows your body to balance and repair itself. Poor sleep is associated with obesity, diabetes, and poor cardiovascular health, among other chronic diseases.
In an older study that included 515 women who had experienced heart attacks, about half of the participants reported sleep disturbances in the days before the heart attack.
The issue, of course, is that many problems can cause sleep disturbances. Perimenopause and stress are two very common reasons women may not sleep well, along with autoimmune diseases, which affect women more frequently than men.
If you’re not sleeping well, it’s worth discussing with Dr. Taylor. Sometimes addressing sleep hygiene with some simple changes can help. Here are a few things that might improve your sleep:
- Going to bed and getting up at the same time each day
- Developing a relaxing bedtime routine and following it regularly
- Keeping your bedroom cool and dark
- Using your bedroom only for sleep and sex
- Eliminating caffeine after noon
- Avoiding alcohol within 2-3 hours of bedtime
Your annual exam is a good time to discuss sleep concerns with Dr. Taylor. This comprehensive visit includes discussing your lifestyle and health needs, as well as blood tests and appropriate screenings.
2. Fatigue and weakness
Another subtle symptom of heart trouble is often unexplained fatigue and a feeling of weakness or shakiness. Like sleep disturbances, fatigue, and weakness can be difficult to identify because they can be caused by many different things.
You may feel weak because of your diet, and fatigue can be related to a stressful, busy life, autoimmune conditions, or a vitamin deficiency. However, it could also be an indication of declining cardiovascular health.
If you’re feeling deeply fatigued, please make an appointment to discuss potential reasons with Dr. Taylor. Whether it’s related to your heart health or something else, chronic fatigue is a sign of a problem.
3. Shortness of breath
If you jog up a flight of stairs, it makes sense to be short of breath. But if you’re relaxing on the sofa and find yourself short of breath, it could be a sign of a problem. Women with cardiovascular issues may feel short of breath while lying down.
Like the other symptoms we’ve talked about, shortness of breath may not seem like an indication of a serious health problem. Everyone is short of breath now and then, just like everyone feels extra fatigued or unable to sleep well sometimes.
If you’re short of breath once with no clear explanation, you probably don’t need to worry. But, if it happens several times or in conjunction with other unusual symptoms, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment at A Woman’s Wellspring.
Dr. Taylor offers complementary medicine, supplements, and supportive counseling. These services are important for reducing stress, improving your nutrition, and helping you achieve and maintain excellent health. Schedule your appointment today and make sure your heart is as healthy as it can be.