Heart diseases are no more troublesome and hazardous to just older and 50 plus women but are fast catching up with younger women as well. Each year more women than men die of a heart disease for the basic reason that symptom manifestation in women is drastically different from that of men. Subsequent to a heart attack, women are 1.5 times more likely to die within a year as compared to men.
The plaque in arteries of men tends to deposit in clumps while that in women tends to spread out evenly. This is one of the main reasons for angiographic studies in women to be misinterpreted as normal causing serious implications later on. So a complete analysis of all alarm signals is imperative for ruling out cardiac diseases in women with normal results.
Alarm signals/risk factors
1. Familial predisposition to coronary heart disease (CHD)
Increasing age, close blood relatives having CHD and ethnicity (Asian and black women are at a greater risk than their white counterparts) all have a direct bearing on the heart health.
2. Lifestyle
A lifestyle of inactivity and overeating coupled with a history of any childhood disease can put you at a higher risk. In addition, hypertensive blood levels, diabetes, smoking, imbalanced diet which tends to shoot up cholesterol and triglyceride levels can be silent killers.
3. Stress levels
Stress and anxiety is one of the major causes which can over-ride any of the other causes and put your heart in a tight spot, women being more emotionally influenced.
4. Estrogen levels
What keeps heart problems at bay in younger women, can be a major cause of heart disease in older women who have seriously low levels of estrogen. Estrogen is considered to heart protective when naturally produced by the body which is stopped at menopause. This can be a major cause of cardiac ailments in women.
5. Gender
Gender itself inflicts risks as women who have had one heart attack are at a greater risk of having another one than men. Also chances of women surviving a second MI is much smaller than men. Women are twice likely to die than men within first few weeks following a heart attack.
Management
Heart management is a must for women of all ages. The sooner you start the better.
1. In your 20s
Your management regime should be more of a preventive style. Check out your family history, watch what you eat, monitor your blood pressure and blood cholesterol at random intervals. This should just about suffice for a proactive healthy heart.
2. In your 30s
Alcohol and tobacco are silent killers. Their intake must be restricted. Concentrate on nutritional requirements. Increase intake of fiber rich and low cal food and include lean meat and fresh vegetables in your diet. Lifestyle must be adapted to listen to your bodily needs.
3. In your 40s
Best time to pay heed to your body alarms or needs. Maintain a fitness regime which not only checks your calories but also works out your problem areas. Monitor your weight regularly and keep blood pressure under strict control. Follow a diet with at least 4 1/2 cups of fresh fruits and vegetables per day. Relish heart healthy foods like oily fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids. A slack in these years can cause a lot of reason for irreversible alarm in later years.
4. In your 50s and above
If you have been too busy for your body all these years, remember it is never too late to start. An active lifestyle with a whole lot of outdoor activities, a regular consultation with your doctor, routine check-ups and thoughtful diet can still keep your heart healthy. Take a low sodium diet to keep controlled blood pressure levels. It is now important to eat according to what you spend and not spend the calories that you take in. If you have had a healthy heart till now, take care that it stays that way.
Choosing a better and healthy lifestyle that supports a healthy heart and body, is all what you need. A heart friendly diet, weight management, increased physical mobility, moderated alcohol and restricted smoking are your steps to a healthy heart. For those with CHD, following this regime can reduce the risks involved.
