Week 2

Heart Health

Heart Health in Women: What You Need to Know

Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in women, yet many don’t recognize the signs.

It doesn’t always look like sudden chest pain. In women, symptoms can be subtle and often ignored, such as:

• Unusual fatigue

• Shortness of breath

• Nausea

• Pain in the back, jaw, or shoulder

Too often, we dismiss these signs as stress or exhaustion—but your body may be warning you.

🫀 Common Heart Conditions

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Narrowed arteries that can lead to heart attacks

• Heart Attack: Blocked blood flow to the heart; symptoms may be atypical in women

• Heart Failure: The heart cannot pump effectively

• Arrhythmias: Irregular heart rhythms causing palpitations or dizziness

• Stroke: Interrupted blood flow to the brain

• TIA (Mini Stroke): Temporary stroke-like symptoms a critical warning sign of future stroke

⚠️ Risk Factors

• Poor diet, inactivity, smoking, alcohol

• High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity

• Chronic stress, anxiety, hormonal changes

• Family history

💡 Takeaway

Listen to your body.
Early signs are often subtle but ignoring them can be dangerous.

Your body whispers before it screams. Don’t ignore it. 💕