Monday, March 19, 2007
Heart disease in women
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in American women. 60% of women who die from coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms. This signifies the importance of preventing heart diaseases in women. Heart diseases kill more women than breast cancer.
Generally coronary heart disease appears more in the form of angina in females.
The usual signs and symptoms are:
1. Recurring pain in the chest.
2. Difficulty in taking breath.
Source: 4 Woman.gov
Variant angina and micro vascular angina are more in females (the peculiar thing in the above two conditions is coronary arteries are in normal state).
In Micro vascular angina – in some patients- the left side of the heart does not function properly.
Note: Usually heart disease occurs in females in latter age when compared to males.
Women and Heart disease:
Before Menopause, the heart attack rate in females is lower than males.
After Menopause, the heart attack rate is equal in both males and females due to change in lipo protein levels.
Oestrogen hormone protects females from heart attack before menopause.
The American Heart Association does not advise women to take postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT) to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.
In the 45-64 age group, one in seven suffers some form of heart disease. (Of the same aged males, one in six suffers.)
More than 50% of total deaths due to cardiovascular disease are female patients. Cardio vascular disease kills about a one woman per minute.
How to prevent Heart attack:
1. Meditate daily for 20-30 minutes. Breathing exercises are essential.
2. Brisk walking for 30-45 minutes. Early morning is ideal time.
3. Avoid anxiety and unnecessary stress.
4. Reduce salt and fat content in daily diet.
5. Control your blood pressure.
6. Control blood sugar levels (Diabetics).
7. Avoid smoking and alcoholism.
These are the simple ways to prevent heart attack in normal people.
Up to 1947, people all over the world thought heart diseases were not under control of human beings and they were caused by unknown mechanism.
In 1947, Framington heart study done be a team of doctors observed the relation between heart diseases and lifestyle.
If we can able to control our diet habits and stress level, we can prevent 90% of heart attacks. Contentment in life is important.
Please comment on this article.
Recent Medical articles
Search for Heart Diseases
0 comments:
Post a Comment