Unassuming Victim

The bible tells us to pray without ceasing for many reason. One reason he tells us to do that is for the fact that the devil goes to and fro throughout the earth seeking whom he may devour. Let me tell you something, the devil has been devouring alot of women fitness wise. Many times its through ignorence...one way is through the women's heart. So precious is the heart...so precious, that the Lord God spoke through king Solomon and said, "Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life". Boy was he right, our heart is so important for every part of our lives for example: we need our hearts in family situations, children, husband, Mom, Dad, our jobs, church, especial functions, especial occasions and last but not least to live.  You see, the heart is one of the most unassuming killers in women's lives because most women find it very hard to detect an on coming heart attack. He are some pretty alarming facts and info's on this matter:

When it comes to women and heart disease, subtle signs may precede a heart attack by one week to many months, even six or more. Even though the following symptoms may be—and often are—caused by other medical conditions, they also could be pieces of a puzzle that say your heart is in trouble. These include but aren't limited to:

Chest pain that occurs in a predictable pattern (from stress, activity, etc.)

Unusual and unexplained fatigue

Sleep disturbances

Shortness of breath

Indigestion that may or may not be related to eating

Pain in the left shoulder blade or upper back

Anxiety or feeling of uneasiness or impending personal doom

Personal risk factors include but aren't limited to:

Stable angina. Although additional information is needed and further testing may be required (such as EKG, a pharmacologic stress test, electron beam computed tomography heart scan, and/or others), the aching chest pain you are experiencing may be a condition known as stable angina. If present, this type of heart pain happens in a predictable pattern and puts the affected person at a higher risk for a future heart attack.

Shortness of breath. While there are many reasons for this symptom to occur (asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, etc.), I am concerned because your shortness of breath occurs along with left shoulder and arm pain, which is often a symptom of serious heart trouble.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure. No doubt about this one, as your pressure is not controlled. High readings definitely are linked to an increased risk for heart attacks and strokes. I would encourage you to keep a blood pressure diary for two weeks. Check your readings at least two times per day with a portable machine that has been verified as similar to the measurements at your doctor's office. If your blood pressure is indeed too high (greater than 120 as top systolic number and/or greater than 80 as bottom, or diastolic number), the dosing of your medications needs to be adjusted, or even changed. Your high blood pressure absolutely needs to be controlled and lowered to a safer range.

Family history of cardiovascular disease. Your brother had significant heart disease, requiring a quadruple bypass at the young age of 41. This puts you in a higher risk category for heart disease.

While you did not mention your cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride or HDL levels, I am hoping you have had them checked and they are in a healthy range. If not, that would add to your risk for cardiovascular disease. Other cardiovascular risk factors that need to be considered include:

Age 55 and older

Smoking

Excess alcohol (more than one drink per day for women)

Diabetes

Metabolic syndrome

Physical inactivity

Waist measurement greater than 35 inches

Obesity (check body mass index to calculate your personal category)

Race (black women have a greater risk of heart disease and stroke than white women)

Overwhelming stress

Many people think heart attacks happen in the familiar television fashion: A person clutches his chest from the pain and drops to the floor after passing out. Even though chest pain is the most common symptom, women are more likely than men to have a heart attack without this pain. In fact, many women have other or "atypical" symptoms that require prompt attention. These symptoms include but aren’t limited to:

Chest sensation described as an ache, tightness or pressure

Unusual and unexplained fatigue

Shortness of breath

Indigestion, nausea or vomiting

Pain in the neck, shoulder or back

Sudden weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness

As we have learned from the large, ongoing study known as the Women's Health Initiative, along with other research on women's cardiovascular disease, a woman's heart has its own way of communicating in the face of illness. I highly encourage you to visit a family physician, general internist, cardiologist or other health care professional skilled in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of women's cardiovascular disease as soon as possible.

Additional information is provided at http://www.healthinfo.com/.