Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women over 40
https://www.news9live.com/health/covid-19/international-womens-day-heart-disease-is-the-leading-cause-of-death-in-women-over-40-157782
Menopause normally occurs around 50-55 years or earlier and is preceded by the perimenopause stage.
Reduced estrogen production, puts women at higher risk for heart attacks.
Greater awareness of disparities is a critical first step to improving cardiovascular outcomes for women.
Heart disease is the leading cause
of death in women over 40, especially those who have attained menopause. Over
56 per cent of women in the age group of 30-69 yrs in rural areas of India fall
prey to heart-disease related mortality. Menopause normally occurs around 50-55
years or earlier and is preceded by the perimenopause stage, wherein women
experience hormonal changes and declining estrogen levels. Reduced estrogen
production as well as the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries, puts
women at higher risk for heart attacks.
Moreover,
in many areas of cardiovascular disease, even when they are diagnosed women are
under-treated compared with men. For example, women are less likely to receive
statins for dyslipidemia and less likely to receive anticoagulation for atrial
fibrillation (AFib). Further, even after a heart attack (acute coronary
syndrome), they are less likely to be prescribed guideline-directed medical
therapy (GDMT), less likely to receive appropriate treatment in a timely
fashion, and less likely to undergo angioplasty/surgery. Women also need more
help with prevention: among other issues, they are less likely to get an
adequate amount of physical activity, more likely to be obese, and less likely
to quit smoking compared with men. Greater awareness of these disparities is a
critical first step to improving cardiovascular outcomes for women.
Heart attack symptoms for women
While the
most common heart attack symptom in women is the same as in men (some type of
chest pain, pressure or discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or comes
and goes). The difference lies that in women, in many cases chest pain may not
be severe and might even not be noticed (in women it's possible to have a heart
attack without chest pain). Rather women may have other heart attack symptoms
but not chest pain like neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or upper belly
(abdomen) discomfort, shortness of breath, pain in one or both arms, nausea or
vomiting, sweating, lightheadedness or dizziness, unusual fatigue or even
acidity (indigestion).
Moreover, even these symptoms may be vague and not as noticeable as the
crushing chest pain often associated with heart attacks in men. The reason
could be that often women have blockages not only in their main arteries but
also in the smaller ones that supply blood to the heart (aka coronary
microvascular disease). In women, emotional stress can play a major role in
triggering heart attack and women tend to have symptoms more often when
resting, or even when asleep.
This is the reason that women might be diagnosed less often with heart disease
than are men but on the other hand, women are more likely than men to have a
heart attack with no severe blockage in an artery (non-obstructive coronary
artery disease).
Tips for women that can help in preventing cardiovascular disease
1. Manage stress: Stress is an important cause of not only heart disease but also increases the risk of heart attack (rupture of vulnerable plaque). Reducing stress by exercising, yoga and dhyan (practising mindfulness), listening to soothing music, art and increasing friend circle are some ways to reduce stress.
2. Exercise and maintain a healthy weight: If overweight, losing even a few kilos can lower heart disease risks.
3. Follow treatment plan religiously: Take medications as prescribed, such as blood pressure medications, blood thinners and aspirin.
4. Quit smoking: Don't smoke, don't start, quit smoking and even avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
5. Eat a healthy diet: Opt for whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and white meats. Avoid saturated or trans fats, added sugars, and high amounts of salt.
6. Avoid or limit alcohol: Drink in moderation or avoid completely. Limit to 1 drink per day.
7. Manage risk factors: High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes increase the risk of heart disease.
Exercise and heart health
Women are especially susceptible to physical inactivity. Regular activity helps keep the heart-healthy. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercises, such as walking at a brisk pace, on most days of the week. If that's more than you can do, start slowly and build up. Even five minutes a day of exercise has health benefits.
If unable to do at a stretch, break up your workouts into several 10-
minute sessions during a day. Another option is interval training:
alternate short bursts of intense activity with intervals of lighter
activity. Moderate exercise can maintain a healthy weight, improve
blood pressure and thus reduce the risk of
heart diseases.