• Heart disease can affect the blood vessels. Many problems relate to atherosclerosis, known as plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries. The plaque in the arteries narrows the arteries, making it harder for the blood to flow through the arteries. When this happens, the plaque can burst, form a clot and stop blood flow to the heart. This causes a heart attack or if the vessel is in the brain — a stroke.
• Heart disease does not stop there. Heart failure describes the fact that the heart does not pump as well as it should to meet the needs of your body. The body does not receive enough oxygen, and the heart continues to work, but it cannot move blood and fluid through the body sufficiently.
• Heart disease can cause irregular, fast or slow heartbeats, known as arrhythmias.
Know the risk factors:
• High blood pressure, high bad cholesterol (LDL) and smoking are the main risk factors for heart disease
• Diabetes
• Overweight and obesity
• Poor diet
• Physical inactivity
• Alcohol excess (for women, more than 1 drink daily.
Symptoms may include:
• Heart attack: Chest pain or discomfort, upper back pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea/vomiting, extreme fatigue, upper body discomfort and shortness of breath. Some women have no pain.
• Arrhythmia: Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations).
• Heart Failure: Shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling of the feet/ankles/legs/abdomen.
• Stroke: Sudden weakness, paralysis (inability to move) or numbness of the face/arms/legs, especially on one side of the body. Other symptoms may include confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, difficulty seeing in one or both eyes, shortness of breath, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, loss of consciousness, or sudden and severe headache.
http://www.coastalpoint.com/content/women_and_heart_disease_make_steps_decrease_risk_03_03_2016
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