With heart disease causing more deaths among American men and women than any other disease or other cause, it is clear the more we know about risks and prevention the better. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease kills one in four men and one in five women, but of the five key risk factors for developing heart disease, we do have some control over four.
During National Heart Health Month, Stark Women’s Center would like to emphasize the need for women to be aware of how heart disease affects them as well as how they can best reduce their risk of developing heart disease. It is estimated that nine out of every 10 women have at least one risk factor: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, or a family history of heart disease. Yet, even with this knowledge, many women are not good about tracking these health concerns.
For women, tips for maintaining a healthy heart include understanding heart disease and how it impacts women, working with a health care professional regularly, and making the best choices possible with regard to diet and exercise.
Address the risk factors you can control
You can’t change your family history but addressing other risk factors head on can significantly reduce your risk of developing heart disease. This includes quitting smoking, which can damage your heart and cause blot clots, and avoiding alcohol, which may lead to high blood pressure, arrythmias, and heart failure. (Women who choose to drink should limit alcoholic drinks to seven or fewer per week.)
Maintaining a healthy weight also can make a difference. While obesity does not cause heart disease, it does increase your risk for developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, all of which are key risk factors for heart disease.
Make healthy choices
Diet and exercise are your keys to a healthy heart. Add an exercise routine to your schedule three times a week, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and park your car in the furthest parking spot from the door. A brisk walk daily can make a big difference in heart health.
Make sure your diet is made up of real, whole foods and lean meats, and avoid processed and packaged foods whenever possible. Talk with a dietician about foods that you should avoid based on your health history, such as red meats, saturated fats, and added sugars.
See your doctor regularly
Your health care provider is here to ensure your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI) stay in a healthy range and to answer your questions about your risk for heart disease, especially as you get older.
Menopause can be a concern for women both because of the weight gain that often accompanies it and because a decline in estrogen may increase a woman’s risk for heart disease. While hormone therapy is not a treatment for heart disease, your doctor can advise you whether estrogen replacement therapy is right for you.
Remember, women experiencing a heart attack will frequently experience much more subtle symptoms than men, including back or abdominal pain, indigestion, or lightheadedness. If you have questions about heart disease, your risk, or how to improve your heart health, contact Stark Women’s Center today to schedule a consultation with one of our health care providers