In recent times, heart disease treatment for women is getting at least some of the attention that it needs.

The fact is that women are as much at risk from heart disease as men, even though heart disease is traditionally thought of more as a man’s disease.

heart-disease-treatmentHeart disease treatment is now encompassing different areas such as educating women about their heart disease risk, about recognizing the more subtle symptoms of the disease that women typically experience, what to do in case of a heart attack and beginning treatment swiftly where required.

Medication for heart disease

If a diagnosis of heart disease is made, several medications will typically be prescribed. It is important to know what each medication is for, and become informed about the generic name, strength and composition.

When traveling, carry extra medications or carry the prescription so that you can get it refilled if required. If your heart disease treatment is producing any side effects ask the doctor if it is possible to vary the dosage or if a different brand of the drug can be tried.

It is also important to continue to take heart disease medication as prescribed. You should neither self medicate nor stop medication if you feel you are feeling better or think you don’t have any symptoms.

Never vary the dosage without consulting the doctor. Set reminders on the phone or alarm to remind you to take your medication each day.

Also remember to follow other recommendations or lifestyle alterations that the doctor may have suggested as part of the treatment. Eat healthy and exercise as suggested to keep heart disease in control.

Also educate yourself about other facts of heart disease treatment such as stents, their functions, and their types and so on. Become informed about angioplasty and also ask about surgery that may be required and whether there are any alternatives at all to this.

What to do in case of a heart attack

An important part of heart disease treatment is to know how to react to a heart attack, whether you’ve had a heart attack before or if your doctor has told you that you are at higher risk. Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, particularly as they manifest in women.

In case you think you’re having a heart attack, call 911 or the emergency service in your area. Chew an aspirin and keep a nitroglycerine tablet under your tongue. Have all of your medical details ready including information about nay medications that you may be allergic to.

In the interests of any family member who have heart disease you or someone in the family can learn CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) as part of heart disease treatment. CPR can be lifesaving in case the heart suddenly stops beating (ventricular fibrillation). If a person is not revived within 10 minutes of such an incident, the brain death occurs. CPR can help buy vital time until the defibrillator (to apply electrical shocks to restart the heart) becomes available by keeping oxygenated blood flowing to the heart and brain.