We have a few more days in the ‘month of love’, and we want to dive into love for one’s self and health. As women, we know that usually, we take care of everyone else in our lives before we think about taking care of ourselves and our health. Did you know that February is national heart month? When was the last time you took inventory of your heart and cardiovascular health? Have you ever thought about your heart and cardiovascular health? Most people think that heart disease and heart attacks are something that only happens to older white men, but that is so far from the truth. Heart disease is the number 1 killer of women and less than 50% of women know the signs and symptoms. Black and Hispanic women are less likely than white women to be aware of heart attack symptoms, according to the National Institutes of Health. One of the things that we say over and over and over here at Teal Diva is “advocate for your health” and “you are your best advocate”, well the same is true for your cardiovascular health. Did you also know that symptoms of a heart attack in women are different than those of men?
Symptoms for a heart attack in women:
- Shortness of breath
- Pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen
- Dizziness
- Upper back pressure
- Extreme fatigue
Knowing your family history is also important. Heart disease can be passed down from generation to generation so knowing your family’s health history is something that you need to talk to your doctor about. Even though we can’t change our genes, we can do things daily that help.
- Don’t smoke.
- Keeping track of your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels
- Eat healthily
- Get up and move more
Remember we LOVE you, but more importantly, we want YOU to love YOU! Make time to take care of yourself, sign up for that exercise class, try that new recipe, and talk with your doctor if you have any concerns.
*health information was gathered from American Heart Association and the CDC
