There isn’t a higher time than now to examine in in your coronary heart well being.
With the information of Lisa Marie Presley’s demise from an obvious cardiac arrest, it’s vital to concentrate to danger components and household historical past. And early detection may be useful and even lifesaving in lots of instances.
Laura Franey, M.D., is a heart specialist at Corewell Health West, specializing in superior cardiovascular imaging. She mentioned a girl’s coronary heart well being is essential.
“Cardiac arrest is when the guts all of a sudden stops beating,” she mentioned. “It could actually come on shortly, and an individual in misery with it could lose consciousness, develop into disabled and even die.”
Dr. Franey mentioned in cardiac arrest an individual’s coronary heart goes right into a harmful rhythm. It may be a sudden onset with little to no signs. Cardiac arrest may be brought on by cardiac illness – blockages within the coronary heart or arteries – however it additionally may be brought on by electrolyte abnormalities, drug overdose or a extreme hit to the chest.
And whereas cardiac arrest isn’t essentially frequent in girls, cardiac illness is.
“Cardiac illness in girls is among the main causes of demise within the U.S.”
That’s why relating to cardiac well being, the principle issues to give attention to are danger components, or causes, of cardiac illness. It’s additionally vital to speak to your physician when you have a household historical past of coronary heart points, together with cardiac arrest.
Threat components for cardiac illness embrace:
- Hypertension
- Levels of cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Tobacco use
- Household historical past of coronary heart circumstances
She additionally mentioned sufferers must be proactive and develop into their very own advocates.
“Know your numbers,” she mentioned. “What’s your ldl cholesterol and blood stress? And when you have a robust household historical past of cardiac illness, speak to your physician about methods to attenuate dangers.”
Screening may be totally different for a lot of sufferers. Nevertheless, it sometimes begins with the evaluation of baseline danger components resembling ldl cholesterol and blood stress. Relying on one’s particular person danger, further labs and/or cardiac imaging — resembling a coronary artery calcium rating — could also be thought of to additional consider cardiac well being.
“For ladies, it’s vital to know that signs may not at all times be the everyday signs,” she mentioned. “Lots of people suppose chest ache whereas exercising is the one factor to look out for, and that’s not the case.”
Signs to look at for embrace:
- New chest ache or stress
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting or dizziness
- Racing coronary heart
- Fatigue
“For those who’re noticing any of those signs, deliver it up along with your major care doctor or heart specialist,” Dr. Franey mentioned. “It’s by no means incorrect to say new signs to your well being group.”
