Heart Attack Prevention in Women: 4 Simple Tips

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women across the United States. Here’s the good news: We know a lot about how to prevent heart disease and its serious complications, including heart attacks. 

As a heart attack prevention expert, David Bolon, MD, can help you identify your specific risk factors, then defend against them. If you want a personalized plan to proactively lower your heart attack risk, come see Dr. Bolon and our team at Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular in Midtown East, Manhattan, New York City. 

In the meantime, here are some general tips to help. 

#1: Learn the warning signs

This tip focuses less on preventing a heart attack and more on catching it before it can turn deadly. The symptoms of a heart attack can exhibit differently in women and men. You might still experience the chest pain that’s characteristic of this health emergency. But some other symptoms to watch for include:

• Back, shoulder, or arm pain
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath

A fast response to a heart attack can literally save your life. As you work to proactively prevent this problem, make sure you also know how to respond to it. 

#2: Track your numbers

A few key indicators can tell us a lot about your risk of heart disease and heart attack. Dr. Bolon can help you monitor your levels of:

• Blood pressure
• Blood sugar
• Cholesterol

After menopause, women often see their cholesterol levels shift toward an unhealthier balance while their blood sugar levels tend to tick up. As a result, tracking these metrics gets extra important over time.

Dr. Bolon can check all of these and more with a cardiac screening. By tracking these numbers and how they change over time, he helps you actively monitor your risk of heart attack. 

#3: Get moving

Your heart is a muscle. That means you can strengthen it just like any other muscle in your body. 

To lower your risk for a heart attack, experts recommend getting at least 150 minutes of exercise each week. You want to do enough to get your heart pumping a little more than normal. Brisk walking, gardening, or a slow bike ride would all count. 

If you’re pressed for time, 75 minutes of higher-intensity exercise also does the trick. That could be hiking, running, or swimming, for example. 

#4: Eat healthier

A healthy diet helps to keep your blood vessels clear of plaque. That makes it easier for your heart to function the way it should. 

For heart health, the Office on Women’s Health recommends eating more:

• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Whole grains
• Healthy proteins

Experts also suggest minimizing your intake of sugar and unhealthy fats, and watching your overall calorie intake. 

These general tips can help all women lower their heart attack risk. You don’t have to stop there, though. For a personalized care plan and support putting it into action, come see Dr. Bolon. Call our office at (716) 303-4738 or book your appointment online today.