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                Knowledge and News on Women: OWH Blog

Knowledge and News on Women: OWH Blog

                        Knowledge & News on Women: Commit to a Healthier Version of You
          Knowledge & News on Women: 2023 Women's Health Year in Review
          Knowledge & News on Women: Pregnancy Exposure Registries
          Knowledge & News on Women: Mammography Matters
          Knowledge & News on Women: National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
          Knowledge & News on Women: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Blog
          Knowledge & News on Women: Women and Heart Health
          Knowledge & News on Women: World AIDS Day 2022
          Knowledge & News on Women: Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2022
          Knowledge & News on Women: National Women's Health and Fitness Day 2022
          Knowledge & News on Women: Fibroid Awareness Month 2022
          Knowledge & News on Women: Maternal Health Matters
          Knowledge & News on Women: Endometriosis Awareness Month
          Knowledge & News on Women: Heart Health Month
          Knowledge & News on Women's Health Blog Archive Home
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          Knowledge and News on Women: OWH Blog
          Knowledge & News on Women: Women and Heart HealthKnowledge and News on Women: OWH Blog Knowledge & News on Women: Women and Heart Health
  
  					From the FDA Office of Women's Health
	
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**Women and Heart Health**

Young woman hugging a paper stock heart
**The first Friday in February is National Wear Red Day**, a day when many people wear red to bring greater attention to heart disease as a leading cause of death for Americans. In fact, 1 in every 5 deaths in women in the United States is caused by heart disease. **Celebrate Wear Red Day by learning about heart health, heart disease, and how you can help protect your heart.**

**What Is Heart Disease?**

Heart disease refers to different types of heart conditions. One example is a heart attack, which happens when plaque or a clot blocks the flow of blood to the heart muscle. Another is coronary artery disease, which occurs when plaque builds up in your arteries. Some people believe that heart disease mainly affects men. But women are just as likely as men to have heart disease.

**Heart Disease Research and FDA**

Women’s heart health is important to FDA. Since 1994, FDA’s Office of Women’s Health (OWH) has helped fund research on heart disease in women. This work has provided new insights on heart disease and how different treatments and their effects can vary between men and women. It has also led to knowledge of how certain treatment devices work for women living with heart disease.

HCP with stethoscope on patient's chest
**What Are Heart Disease Risk Factors in Women?**

Some risk factors for heart disease may run in families, while others may be due to lifestyle factors. Here are a few common risk factors for heart disease:

Diabetes
	Smoking
	Obesity
	Menopause
	High cholesterol
	High blood pressure
	Family history of premature heart diseaseRead more about common risk factors for heart disease in women.

**What Are the Signs of Heart Disease?**

Heart disease is sometimes known as a silent disease and may not be diagnosed until you have other symptoms or emergencies such as a heart attack. Know the signs of a heart attack. For women, signs can be the same or different from those in men.

Heavy ache in your chest or back between your shoulder blades
	Sharp pain in your upper body
	Shortness of breath
	Breaking out in a cold sweat
	Nausea
	Unusual or unexplained tiredness
	Feeling dizzy or light-headed
	Feeling sick to your stomachIf you have any of the above signs, reach out to a health care provider for medical advice. In the case of a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

**How Can I Be Heart-Healthy?**

**Learn about heart health. Start by watching this video.**


**Reduce your risk of heart disease** by becoming more aware of your personal risk factors. This can include your age, race or ethnicity, and existing health conditions. Speak to your health care provider about your current medications and risks. Lastly, be sure to manage your existing health conditions well. For instance, having high blood pressure can raise your risk of heart disease.

**Talk to your doctor about aspirin use. Aspirin is not for everyone.** You can also get facts about taking aspirin from FDA’s Heart Health fact sheet resource.

**Consider habits that promote good heart health.**Aim to maintain a healthy weight. Regular physical activity and eating heart-healthy foods are good ways to start. Use FDA’s Nutrition Facts Label to guide your food choices for good heart health. If you are a current smoker, quitting can be beneficial for your heart health. Learn more with FDA’s booklet on medicines to help you quit smoking.

Young African American woman jogging
Maternal Heart Health

Each year, about 700 women in the United States die from problems related to pregnancy, and more than 50,000 women have life-threatening pregnancy complications. Heart conditions are leading causes.

A few key risk factors for pregnancy-related heart problems include your age, race or ethnicity, and existing health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. If you plan to get pregnant or are pregnant, talk to your health care provider about your risks and how you can better protect your heart health for you and your baby. Read more on maternal warning signs.

Women in Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that inform the safety of medical treatments and how well they work. Women of all ages, health backgrounds, races, and ethnic backgrounds can volunteer to participate in clinical trials. This can help inform research areas like heart disease. It can also lead to treatments that are safe and work well for all women. Learn how you can take part in a clinical trial.

There are several ways to make better heart health decisions today. To start, you can make lifestyle changes that support good heart health. You can also take time to become more informed of your risks. These are just a few steps you can take to live a more heart-healthy life each day.

Related links

Check out these resources from our office and federal partners:

How Smoking Affects Heart Health | FDA
	Tips for Women to Prevent Heart Disease | FDA
	High Blood Pressure | FDA
	Cholesterol Medicines Guide | FDA
	Interactive Nutrition Facts Label | FDA
	Listen to Your Heart: Women and Heart Disease | NHLBI, NIH
	Heart Disease | HHS Office on Women's Health
	Heart Disease Resources | HHS Office on Women's Health**For resources and materials on other women's health topics, visit www.fda.gov/womens.**

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      01/11/2024Knowledge and News on Women: OWH Blog

          
                        January 2024: Commit to a Healthier Version of You
          December 2023: Women's Health Year in Review
          November 2023: Understanding Pregnancy Exposure Registries
          October 2023: Mammography Matters
          July 2023: Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
          May 2023: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Blog
          February 2023: Women and Heart Health
          December 2022: World AIDS Day 2022
          October 2022 - Breast Cancer Awareness Month
          September 2022 - National Women's Health and Fitness Day
          July 2022 - Fibroid Awareness Month
          May 2022 - Maternal Health Matters
          March 2022 - Endometriosis Awareness Month
          February 2022 - Heart Health Month
          Knowledge & News on Women's Health Blog Archive
 
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