February is Heart Month in Canada and we’re joining the movement encouraging all Canadians to learn more about heart health.
Most Canadians will be affected by heart disease either personally or through family and friends. By knowing the signs and symptoms as well as understanding your health risks you can be better prepared because early detection saves lives.
Know the Signs of a Heart Attack
- Shortness of breath
- Pain spreading from the chest area, down the arms, or to the neck, jaw or shoulders
- Paleness, sweating or weakness
- Chest pain with feelings of fullness, burning, pressure, tightness, squeezing, heaviness, discomfort, crushing pain
- Nausea, vomiting and possible indigestion
- Anxiety or fear
Heart attacks can be felt differently, some people may not experience chest pressure and may instead feel:
- Pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen
- Pressure in the upper back
- Extreme fatigue
If you experience any of these signs, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.
Understanding the risks
People who menstruate face unique risk factors for heart disease and stroke through out their lives. Estrogen has a protective effect on the heart and as hormones fluctuate with age so do risk factors. Heart disease and stroke is the leading cause of premature death in women in Canada.
From the reproductive years through menopause and post-menopause some risk factors are:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol
- Lifestyle-related risk factors
- Depression
- Systemic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders
- PCOS
- Menstruation and contraception
- Pregnancy related disorders or complications
- Breast cancer treatment
- Chronic kidney disease
If you are concerned about any of these risks, talk to your doctor.
Resources
Through prevention and early detection, we can strengthen Canada’s fight against cardiovascular disease.