WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE HEART AND HEART DISEASE? MEDICATIONS CONTAINING ESTROGEN Medications that contain estrogen — the female hormone — increase the risk of heart attack. Hormone replacement therapy (usually prescribed for the symptoms of menopause) and many birth control pills contain estrogen. Female smokers older than 35 years have the most risk. If you take birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, discuss the benefits and risks with your healthcare professional. SLEEP APNEA Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that can cause your breathing to stop and start many times while you sleep.
There is a strong link between sleep apnea and high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Even short pauses in breathing while you sleep are hard on the heart because they lower the amount of oxygen reaching the heart. It is important to treat sleep apnea, so talk with a healthcare professional if you think that you or your partner may have it. ABNORMAL HEARTBEAT (ARRHYTHMIA) Arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat or rhythm. The heartbeat might be too fast, too slow or not regular (uneven). A lack of blood flow to the heart can cause arrhythmia. An arrhythmia may last for a short time or it may be how a person’s heart always beats.
It may not matter very much, or it might be extremely dangerous. Learn more about arrhythmia a t heartandstroke.ca/heartdisease PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE What is peripheral artery disease? Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) outside the heart which reduces blood flow. PAD most often affects the legs. It can also affect the aorta (the main artery in the body) and arteries going to the brain, arms, kidneys and stomach. PAD is a serious condition. It raises your risk of heart attack and stroke. PAD can even result in loss of a leg. Finding and treating peripheral artery disease early can lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, and loss of a limb.
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