Happy February!
February is American Heart Month, so we’d like to focus this month on heart health, and specifically on raising awareness of heart disease in women.
Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, yet only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat. Furthermore, the transition into menopause marks a point in midlife when women’s cardiovascular risk factors can accelerate, making increased focus on health during this pivotal life stage especially important.
You may be at increased risk of heart disease if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease, but there are certainly proactive steps you can take to mitigate these risks. One of the most important interventions is to become more physically active. The American Heart Association recommends that all adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity (or a combination of both), preferably spread throughout the week. In addition, the AHA recommends adding moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity (such as resistance or weights) at least 2 days per week. Even if you feel that you don’t have time in your busy schedule to reach these specific goals, you can start taking small steps toward increasing your exercise activity. Start simply by spending less time sitting – even light-intensity activity can offset some of the risks of being sedentary. Then, over time, try to gradually work towards incorporating more regular exercise activity into your lifestyle.
Another proactive way to prevent heart disease is to adopt a more heart-healthy diet. Check out our review on what are the healthiest diets.
You can work with your Wayland Personal Physician to optimize your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. We follow the most current guidelines and also offer expanded and proactive screening to identify risk factors for heart disease as early as possible. High blood pressure is the #1 most preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In August 2025, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology issued new guidelines lowering the diagnostic criteria for high blood pressure, which means that now, almost 50% of U.S. adults have hypertension. You can read more about that here.
Chest pain is generally regarded as one of the most common tell-tale symptoms of a heart attack, but heart disease in women can present with a variety of other symptoms. These include:
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea/vomiting
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
- Fainting
- Pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen
- Back pain
- Jaw pain
- Extreme fatigue
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in May 2020 noted that women had higher odds of pain between the shoulder blades, nausea and vomiting and shortness of breath, and lower odds of chest pain and sweating associated with a heart attack. If you experience any of these above symptoms, it is important to seek guidance, as even subtle symptoms may warrant further investigation.
Here at Wayland Personal Physicians, we are committed to optimizing your heart health and your overall well-being. Contact our office today if you’d like to learn more!