CHICAGO, March 2 (UPI) -- Women entering menopause need to be aware of
their increasing risk of heart disease, a U.S. doctor advises.
Dr. Vera Rigolin of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago says women need to
know their symptoms of heart attack may differ from those of men. Men often
experience chest discomfort while women commonly may have other, more subtle
symptoms -- such as fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, jaw pain or abdominal
discomfort.
"In some women, plaque can build in the smallest blood vessels called the
microvascular circulation. These blockages do not show up in an angiogram,"
Rigolin says in a statement. "In these cases, we often use magnetic resonance
imaging with medication to visualize blood flow within the small blood vessels
when other standard tests do not provide us answers."
Menopausal women can lower their risk of heart disease by adopting a healthy
lifestyle, Rigolin says.
"If you are a smoker, quit immediately and avoid secondhand smoke. Eat a diet
rich in fruits and vegetables and exercise at least three times per week to
maintain a healthy body weight," she says.
Rigolin urges visiting a healthcare provider at least yearly to have blood
pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checked.
Source : United Press International
