WASHINGTON, N.C. — Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. As American Heart Month comes to an end soon, a local cardiologist explains the importance of staying on top of your heart health and why women are impacted differently.
Heart disease does not discriminate. In fact, something as simple as stress can trigger a heart attack. Dr. Raymon Nelson, a cardiologist based in Prince George's County, tells WUSA9 a poor diet and lack of exercise can lead to the chronic illness. According to the CDC, heart disease is responsible for 1 in every 4 deaths.
"Women's lives have changed," said Dr. Nelson, who described an increase in stress for women these days. " Women are now supervisors, CEOs, news broadcasters, bankers and they may be the main breadwinner in the family."
"As a result, they have increased levels of stress in their lives, and stress is one of the causes of heart disease."
Women don't always feel symptoms of a heart attack like men, but when they do it's often different.
"When we talk about chest pain in men, it has a tendency to be this crushing type of chest pain, " Dr. Nelson said. "Women may experience jaw pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, but not the classical symptoms that men do and we don't fully understand that."
Some of the risk factors for heart disease include: obesity, diabetes, excessive alcohol use, lack of exercise and a bad diet.
Unborn babies could be at risk for heart disease in the future too.
" If the mother has hypertension, diabetes or hypercholesterolemia-- now even before you're born-- you're at risk," Dr. Nelson said.
He encourages patients to do aerobic activities at least 20 minutes a day.
" If you don't, you increase your risk." he said.