Go Red for Women targets heart

Heart disease may be considered a man’s problem, but interventional cardiologist Dr. Erbert Caceres says it is just as serious for women — but usually later in life.

“The most important thing that somebody should do, and this applies to women too, is that risk factors for cardiovascular disease have to be well controlled,” said Caceres, who practices at Rockford Health System. “The fact that you are a female confers on you some degree of protection, but it is not a perfect protection.

“The bottom line for females is that they develop the same degree of cardiovascular disease as males but at a later time most of the time. They could have early problems in their life. It’s not a common thing, but it happens.”

Caceres was commenting to help draw attention to Friday’s National Wear Red Day, part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement which focuses on heart disease as the No. 1 killer of women at a rate of about 450,000 a year or one each minute. Supporters of the cause are encouraged to wear something red on Friday to draw attention to cause.

Major risk factors for cardiovascular disease include age, male gender, family history, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and being overweight, but smoking, alcohol, stress and physical inactivity also contribute.

The American Heart Association warns that, while some heart attacks are sudden and intense, most of them start slowly with mild pain or discomfort.

Other signs of a heart attack can include:
Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath that may occur with or without chest discomfort. 

Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Heart attack symptoms for a woman can also include a feeling of extreme unease or tiredness.

The American Heart Association advises that, if you or someone you are with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don’t wait longer than five minutes before calling for help. Call 9-1-1, which is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services staff can begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car.

The Go Red For Women campaign was started in 2004, to encourage women to work collectively to wipe out heart disease.

For more information about Go Red For Women, call 888-694-3278 or visit
GoRedForWomen.org, which offers such tools as Go Red BetterU, a free 12-week online nutrition and fitness program, “What to Know BEFORE Your Doctor Visit”, and the Go Red Heart
Checkup to find out your 10-year risk of heart disease or stroke.

For more information about the American Heart Association call 800-242-8721 or visit americanheart.org.

Staff writer Mike DeDoncker can be reached at 815-987-1382 or mdedoncker@rrstar.com.