In today's busy life, many types of neglect are often seen regarding women's health, especially when it comes to their physical weakness or problem of breathlessness. Whenever a woman complains of shortness of breath while climbing stairs, while doing some work or while taking a normal walk, the family and society people dismiss it as a very common thing. In most of the cases, it is assumed that this is just a symptom of anemia or low hemoglobin in the body, for which taking iron tablets can help. However, recent reports from medical science and cardiologists have completely rejected this common belief. Doctors clearly say that frequent shortness of breath in women is not just a deficiency of hemoglobin, but it can be a very big and serious sign that their heart is in dire need of some special investigation or medical treatment. Not understanding this warning in time can prove fatal for women, hence it is very important to know the real reasons behind it.
Direct link between anemia and heart function
Anemia i.e. lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the body has become a common health problem among women, due to which oxygen does not reach their tissues properly and they feel tired. When the amount of oxygen in the body is low, the heart has to work harder than normal to pump blood to the body's organs. Due to this extra pressure the heart muscles are adversely affected. If anemia persists for a long time, the size of the heart can increase and serious conditions like heart failure can arise. This is the reason why when a woman says that she is feeling short of breath, instead of just drinking iron syrup, it is very important to get it checked to see if her heart is weakening due to this extra pressure.
Why are the symptoms of heart diseases in women different from those of men?
It is an established truth in the medical world that the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases in women are quite different and hidden as compared to men. When men have a heart attack, they usually feel sharp and unbearable pain in the chest, which they recognize immediately. On the contrary, heart related problems in women start in a very silent manner. Instead of feeling heaviness or sharp pain in the chest, they face extreme fatigue, pain in the back or jaw, dizziness, and most importantly, shortness of breath without any physical exertion. Since these symptoms seem like gastric problems or general weakness, women ignore them and by the time they reach the doctor, the condition has become quite serious.
Which signs should get a heart test done immediately and which are the necessary tests?
If a woman is having trouble breathing even while resting, feels like suffocating while lying down, or has started swelling in her feet and ankles without any injury, then this should not be considered normal at all. As soon as such symptoms appear, there is a need to immediately contact a cardiologist and get some special heart tests done. First of all, an electrocardiogram (ECG) is done which measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat. Apart from this, the heart valves and its pumping capacity are accurately examined through Echocardiogram. If the doctor has any doubts, he may also recommend a treadmill test (TMT), troponin blood test or coronary angiography to make it completely clear whether there is any blockage or weakness in the heart vessels.
Lifestyle changes and ways to protect heart health
Women need to be most aware of their physical health, because they often put their own health last while taking care of their family. To keep the heart healthy and strong, it is important that they get their overall health checked regularly, which includes checking blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Apart from this, include fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids and nutritious elements in your diet. By taking at least 30 minutes of light walking daily, yoga, meditation and adopting a stress-free lifestyle, women can reduce the risk of many serious heart-related diseases to a great extent. Do not forget to ignore small visible symptoms like shortness of breath, because timely investigation can prevent any major accident.