In the last few years, we have an increase in the emphasis of cardiovascular disease in women. The perception has somehow been cardiovascular disease is "only a man's problem". Not so! Cardiovascular disease can act differently in women, but it is equally serious.
Many know the classic symptoms of a heart attack-crushing chest pain and pain radiating to the left arm or back. Did you know that these classic symptoms are more common in men who are women? True, chest pain is still a very common symptom, but women often have other symptoms. These symptoms can extreme fatigue, shortness of breath (with or without chest pain), pain in the upper back or abdomen, nausea and vomiting. Because cardiovascular disease can itself so different and go unrecognized, it is valuable for women to learn about the risks and learn to recognize these symptoms in their own body as something that can be serious and need immediate attention.
Key statistics about heart and vascular diseases
How large is a real risk of heart disease for women? If you think that it's not really that important, consider this:
About half a million women die annually of cardiovascular disease
This means more lives lost to heart disease and stroke in women than to six the following of death causes
Each year approximately 435000 women have heart attacks, and there are six times so many women die annually of heart attack from breast cancer
Currently, eight million women living with heart disease of some sort. Let's put it another way--10% of all women ages 45-64, and 25% of women over the age of 65 have cardiovascular disease.
Who is At Risk?
Several risk factors play an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. I'm sure you may have heard them all before, but we will review the causes. They are important to know, and important to check if possible. It is so much better to try and prevent cardiovascular disease than to treat heart attacks and strokes after they happen.
High Blood Pressure -causes damage to both the heart as a pump and blood vessels. A third of the adults in the us have high blood pressure, and about one in 10 high blood pressure and don't even know it. Untreated high blood pressure will lead to cardiovascular disease.
Obesity -overweight puts an additional load on the heart. Over time, the obesity lead to high blood pressure and diabetes. Your weight will reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Diabetes -with diabetes is now recognized as an award from the same risk for a large heart event (such as a heart attack) as someone who is already known that cardiovascular diseases. What does this mean? Well, women with diabetes 2-3 times more likely to have a heart attack than someone who doesn't have diabetes.
Smoking -if you smoke you have a chance of having a heart attack a whopping 19 years earlier than you otherwise would. STOP SMOKING NOW!
Race -percentage of cardiovascular diseases is higher African-American women, with the rate of heart attack is twice that of white women ages 55-64. And Pacific Islanders, Latinos and American Indians have a higher rate of diabetes and therefore more cardiovascular diseases as well.
Cholesterol -high cholesterol levels are an important risk factor in both men and women. It contributes to a build up of plaque on the inner wall of the blood vessels, which in turn to heart attack and strokes can lead. Cholesterol tend to creep in women after menopause when hormone levels fall.
How can I get my risks under control?
Most of us know how important it is to a healthy weight, exercise regularly, and eat a healthy diet high in vegetables, fruits and cereals. I can't tell you there is an easy way for good health without doing all these things, because it's all still true. They are just as important as they once were. But realistic weight goals, and try for consistency. After all, will lose a pound a week means that in a year that you have lost 52 pounds! That's a lot, even if you really, really overweight.
Care and visit your Health Care Professional regularly for screening of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. You must be early and immediate action to address these risk factors to check. The optimal treatment of hypertension (HOT) study confirmed that lower blood pressure-120-125 mmHg systolic (the highest number) and 80-85 mmHg diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) on treatment had reached better results that those with higher blood pressure. If you are a diabetic trying to get that number under 125 mmHg systolic pressure. This is much lower than the 140/90 mmHg we heard earlier that the "magic" number was. The study showed even lower number as important in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Women have a much higher incidence to the problems of the thyroid gland. A low thyroid can contribute to weight gain, higher cholesterol, and higher triglycerides, which in turn can increase cardiovascular risk. In particular, women get a thryoid panel as part of their screening, especially as they age.
Don't forget the fiber! The average American eats only 10-15 grams of fiber per day when you have about 30 grams. Whole wheat bread, cereals and soluble fiber (such as barley grains), the fiber content of your diet. Even so, we have trouble getting that much fibre in their daily diet.
It is important you identify your own risk factors and change your life style to check what risks you may have, and of course feel better in the process.
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