factors. ... Risk factors that you can control include smoking, high blood
pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, physical inactivity and obesity. Risk
factors that you cannot control include age, gender, family history and ethnicity.
Statistics indicate that heart diseases and stroke cause one in three female deaths
every year around the world, killing approximately one woman every 80
seconds. Additionally, about 90% of women have one or more risk factors for
heart disease or stroke. There is a higher lifetime risk of stroke in women than in
men and what exacerbates this situation is that the symptoms of heart disease
can be different in women and are often misunderstood.
Though the risk factors are many, lifestyle changes and awareness can prevent
about 80% of these heart disease and stroke events. Speaking about this, Dr Deep
Chandra Pant, HOD-Department of Medicine & Senior Interventional
Cardiologist, Shri Ram Murthy Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly
said, "The traditional risk factors for heart disease include high cholesterol, high
blood pressure, and obesity. However, there are specific risk factors that play a
role in the development of heart disease in women. Some of these include
diabetes, mental stress and depression, smoking, lack of physical activity,
menopause, broken heart syndrome, and complications during pregnancy. It is
imperative for women in all age groups to take the risk factors associated with
this condition seriously. Those with a family history of heart disease should pay
more heed."
Lifestyle factors also play a major role in heart disease in women. Consumption
of food that has high saturated fat, sugar, and salt; limited intake of vegetables
and whole grains, sedentary lifestyles and rising stress levels are some examples
which are the major contributors for deterioration of heart health in women.
These lifestyle factors along with the other co morbid conditions result in low
levels of estrogen in women, which is one of the top five reasons for heart
disease in women today.
Adding, Dr Pant said, "Some possible warning signs of a heart attack in women
include regular symptoms like chest pain. However, older women may have
fatigue, shortness of breath, indigestion, upper abdominal pain or nausea, jaw or
throat pain and a shooting pain in the arm, chest pain in left, right or even in the
middle. Most women ignore these symptoms and pains which are possible
indicators of a heart attack. There is a need to create awareness among women
about these risk factors and symptoms. They should be counselled to visit the
physician as soon as they experience any such unusual pain." Here are some tips
to prevent heart disease in women. -Quit smoking: It is never too late to kick this
unhealthy habit. Quitting smoking helps in reducing blood pressure, improving
circulation, and increasing the oxygen supply. -Eat healthy: Choose foods low in
saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich
whole grains, fish, nuts, legumes, and seeds.
Try eating some meals without meat. Go for lower fat dairy products and poultry
(skinless). Limit sugar-
sweetened beverages and red meat. -Get physically active: A moderate workout
for about 30 minutes every day is beneficial for heart health. Exercise not only
helps increase blood circulation but also reduces stress. -Manage associated
conditions: Some of these include diabetes and blood pressure. Get these levels
monitored frequently. If you notice any fluctuations, it is a good idea to consult
the doctor. -Stress management: Techniques such as yoga and meditation can
help bring down stress levels. It is important to remember that stress will only
increase your likelihood of developing various disorders and therefore, it must be
managed effectively. Try and get adequate sleep too.
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