Cardiology nurse practitioner who sees patients in Decorah gives advice on avoiding heart attacks

"We continue to get better at recognizing symptoms and risk factors to treat heart disease in women," states Gundersen cardiology nurse practitioner Julie Wypyszynski, who sees patients in northeast Iowa at the Gundersen Decorah and West Union Clinics.

That's important because heart disease is the largest cause of death in women and women are twice as likely to die from a heart attack than men.

February is Heart Month, so Wypyszynski is passing along symptoms of heart disease for women to look for: tingling hands, aching teeth or jaw, trouble sleeping, cold sweats, nausea/indigestion, fatigue, dizziness, even anxiety and depression.

Wypyszynski says the best way to prevent heart disease if you're a woman is to get moving: "Even 10 minutes of exercise will dilate arteries for improved blood flow.  Exercise can also help you manage your weight.  Losing even 10 percent of your body weight unloads the heart, lowers blood pressure and reduces incidence of diabetes."

She notes, "Studies show that women's hearts respond better than men's to lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking, exercising more, losing weight, reducing caffeine and lowering stress. When treated with the right medication and program, women improve."