Warning signs of heart attack and stroke in middle-aged women

A woman’s body goes through many changes during menopause and the years before, called perimenopause. This natural phase marks the end of the reproductive period. The ovaries stop producing eggs and the female hormones estrogen and progesterone decline.

This change is a normal part of aging, but loss of these hormones can affect overall health, especially the heart. Estrogen has heart-protective effects, and a deficiency may impact several specific risk factors for heart health, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and weight gain.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women and the risk continues to increase with age. Therefore, it is important to be aware of warning signs that may indicate a current or future risk of heart attack and stroke.

Also, know your family health history, as research shows that women have a higher risk of heart disease if an immediate family member, such as their mother or sister – has heart disease before age 65.

Below are 5 symptoms that every middle-aged woman, aged 40 and over, should pay attention to.

Unusual fatigue

Life is tiring, especially for many women, who often have to balance parenting, careers, and other responsibilities. But there’s a difference between normal exhaustion and the type of exhaustion that can indicate a serious health problem.

Research shows that in the weeks before a heart attack, the most common symptom in women is unusual fatigue. In one study, 70% of women who had a heart attack reported this.

It’s important to take unexplained burnout seriously. If symptoms do not go away after more rest and sleep, contact your doctor for further tests.

Severe hot flashes

Sudden hot flashes and sweating in the upper body, especially the face, neck, and chest, is a normal and frequent experience for women approaching and experiencing menopause. However, excessive and severe hot flashes can indicate that something is wrong.

Recent research shows that women with moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats are three times more likely to develop heart disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than those with less severe hot flashes. more important.

Dr. Jo Ann Pinkerton, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of midlife health at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has come up with a definition they use for hot flash tests, but she thought it was also clinically relevant.

“Moderate hot flashes are associated with sweating, and severe hot flashes cause you to shut down,” she says, adding that the condition can cause you to stop while speaking or waking up. woke up in the middle of the night because it was too hot.

Depression

Our mental health is closely linked to our physical health. Therefore, it is not surprising that research has found that women with depression have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than men.

In a study in Japan, researchers analyzed database records from more than 4 million medical claims of patients who met criteria for depression. The average age was 44. They found that rates of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and subsequent chest pain were higher in women than in men diagnosed with depression.

“If depression is indeed present, it needs to be addressed and treated appropriately, either by counseling or in combination with antidepressants, with or without hormones, depending on their stage of menopause,” she said. Pinkerton said.

All women, regardless of age, should talk to their doctor if they experience significant mood changes, frequently cry, or have suicidal thoughts.

Difficulty breathing of unknown cause

When people imagine heart attacks, they often think of depictions in Hollywood movies of actors collapsing while clutching their chests. But in women, heart attacks present differently and most don’t have that cinematic drama. They also tend to accumulate over a number of weeks.

Women are often unaware of this and may ignore subtle signs, especially difficulty breathing. Shortness of breath can be easily confused with a common viral illness because as a sign of a heart attack, it is often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea and fatigue.

After fatigue and difficulty sleeping, shortness of breath is the most common warning sign of a heart attack in women. In a study of 515 women aged 29 to 97 years old who had a heart attack, shortness of breath occurred in more than 40%. Experts say women should seek care if shortness of breath is unexplained or sudden.

Migraine

Research shows that migraines are three times more common in women than in men. They can cause disability, and are the fourth leading cause of disability in women.

Migraines in middle-aged women are mainly related to fluctuations in hormone levels; Perimenopause causes a decline in estrogen, which triggers these very characteristic headaches of perimenopause and menopause. Migraines can also be related to factors such as stress, diet, anxiety, depression and sleep problems.

One of the challenges is that stroke symptoms in women have some overlap with migraines. For example, both severe migraines and strokes can cause vision changes and dizziness. Other overlapping symptoms include disorientation and numbness and tingling. Furthermore, studies show that migraines can double the risk of stroke.

If this is the first time you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is best to seek medical attention immediately. Even if your migraines aren’t related to a serious, insidious health problem, there are treatments available to prevent or alleviate symptoms.