February is National Heart Month

More women die from cardiovascular disease than from the next four causes of death combined. That includes all forms of cancer. During the month of February, the American Heart Association will focus on women with "Go Red for Women", an educational movement about women and cardiovascular disease. Women present different symptoms than men when they suffer a heart attack. They are:
1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away then comes back.
2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
3. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
4. Nausea, lightheadedness or breaking out in a cold sweat.
5. As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

If you have any of these signs, don't wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Call 9-1-1. Get to a hospital right away.

For more on women's heart health, visit: www.goredforwomen.org

February 3rd is Wear Red Day to call attention to women's heart health issues.