Heart Disease and Women

Heart disease and women

According to the American Academy of Family physicians, heart disease has been identified as the leading cause of death among women over 65 years of age.  It is estimated that women are 4- 6 times more likely to die of heart disease than of breast cancer.  In addition, heart disease affects and has fatal consequences for more women over age 65 than all cancers combined.
 
Women develop heart related issues later in life than men. Generally 7 or 8 years later, but by age 65 statistics bear out a woman’s risk is equal to that of a man.
 
Of course, preventative measures are key since women are less likely to survive heart attacks than are men.  The medical field has not yet been able to explain why, however it is theorized by medical experts that because women’s hearts are smaller, their blood vessels are at higher risk for damage.  In focusing on prevention, it is vital to fully understand all the leading factors that contribute to heart disease- such as smoking, high blood pressure high cholesterol, family history, genetic predisposition and age.
 
It is impossible to control family history, and age, yet steps can be taken while under a doctor’s care to make needed lifestyle changes to help decrease risk factors.
 
Here is a sampling of tips for better heart health:
 
Smoking has been identified as the greatest risk factor for heart disease in women.  It is estimated that more than half of the heart attacks in women under 50 years of age, are directly related to smoking. In addition, women who smoke while taking birth control pills are at an even higher risk.
 
Women need to schedule time to consult with their primary care physicians concerning treatments as they prepare to quit smoking- such as skin patches and some over the counter medication that may help. Some doctors highly recommend hypnosis as a way to help in the process of quitting.
 
It is important for women to have regular blood pressure screenings to determine levels. A doctor will be able to provide prescriptions for medications to reduce blood pressure.  Sometimes patients may have to make changes in diet such as reducing sodium intake to maintain normal blood pressure levels.
 
Exercise regularly: It is suggested that before undertaking any exercise program, one’s doctor be consulted first.  Bear in mind, that as a result of the heart being a muscle like the other muscles in one’s body – it needs exercise. 

Many fitness experts recommend 30- 60 minutes of aerobic exercise at least four times a week including: jogging, brisk walking, cycling, or weight training.  Pilates is also a wonderful way to exercise the body and develop long, lean muscle.  There is a lot of information on Pilates on the internet.  No special equipment is needed to get started.
 
 

Why do women need to exercise?

It is a well known fact that exercise offers positive health benefits for women.  Not only will exercise help you battle unwanted pounds, but it will also help you fight diseases such as cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, respiratory ailments and more.

The truth is, moderate exercise done on a consistent basis will have positive effects on your health and you don’t have to become a trained Olympian, or compete in a marathon to see overall improvement in well-being.

Research has proven that moderate exercise helps boost the immune system.  It is interesting to note that the lack of exercise poses a greater health risk to women than smoking does.  There are also some alarming statistics related to the lack of exercise.  For example, a University of Hong Kong and Department of Health Study showed that lack of exercise increased the risk of dying from cancer in 28% of women. The study also showed that 75% of women who did not exercise ran a greater risk of dying from respiratory ailments.  The risk of dying from heart disease was 28% higher for women who did no physical activity. 

Numbers like these can motivate any woman to sign up for a membership at the local gym, but bear in mind, even consistent sessions of brisk walking, or jogging can be helpful.  You don’t always need to spend money on expensive equipment.  There are many exercise programs that do not require any outlay of money, and jogging is one of them.  Just make sure you have a good pair of comfortable sneakers that can manage wear and tear.  Don’t expect to jog ten miles the first day. Start slowly and gradually increase distance.  The same holds true for brisk walking. Find a buddy for support.

It is suggested that 30 minutes a day of exercise is needed to be able to observe weight loss, and of course 60 minutes a day, if you are ready to manage it, will give you the best results.

Many studies have shown that exercise, but especially weight and strength training can help improve bone strength and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.  Start with a just a few repetitions with light weights of about 2- 5 lbs and gradually increase the reps.

Dr. Barry A. Franklin of William Beaumont Hospital in Michigan, noted that weight training helps improve cardiovascular health by lowering levels of LDL cholesterol, known also as “bad” cholesterol.

Most important of all, it is important for women to maintain a healthy body weight for many health reasons including reducing the risk of breast cancer.

« Previous Page