Treating the Heart of a Woman
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in
At Midwest Heart Specialists, we have made it our mission to educate
When we touch the lives of women for diagnosis and treatment or chronic disease management, we leave our thumbprint on their well-being. It is a responsibility we have taken to heart for more than thirty-five years.
Please take a moment to review this critical education on heart disease and contact Midwest Heart Specialists, if you have questions or concerns about your heart health. Take measures to lower your risk for heart disease “because you have a heart for life”.
Awareness
Understanding your risk factors, both ones you can modify and ones that you cannot modify, is an important first step in the fight against heart disease.
Risk factors you cannot modify:
Age
You may be at increased risk for heart disease if you are a woman over 55 years of age, are menopausal, have had your ovaries removed or are not taking estrogen.
Family History
You may be at increased risk for heart disease if you have a close blood relative who had a heart attack before age 55 (if father or brother) or before age 65 (if mother or sister).
Previous Heart Attack or Stroke or TIA
Women who have had a heart attack are at higher risk of having a second heart attack. Twenty-two percent of women ages 40-69 who survive a first stroke, TIA or heart attack will have another within five years.
Risk factors you can modify:
Tobacco Smoke
Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death in the
High Blood Cholesterol Levels
A high level of cholesterol in the blood is a major risk factor for heart attack and can indirectly increase your risk of stroke. The two categories of cholesterol cardiologists are most concerned with are the low-density lipids (LDL or “bad cholesterol), which increases plaque build-up in the arteries and high-density lipids (HDL or “good” cholesterol), which lower your risk of heart disease. Research has shown that low levels of HDL (less than 50) appear to be a stronger risk factor for women than for men. Diet is the key in maintaining appropriate cholesterol levels. Research studies also indicate that increased physical activity or exercise can increase HDL levels in women.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack and the most important risk factor for stroke. Women have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure if they are obese, have a family history of high blood pressure, are pregnant, take certain types of birth control pills or are menopausal. African-American women have higher average blood pressure levels compared to Caucasian women.
Physical Inactivity
Various studies have shown that lack of physical activity is a risk factor for heart disease and indirectly increases the risk of stroke. Overall, they found that heart disease is almost twice as likely to develop in inactive people as in those who are more active.
Obesity and Overweight
You are at higher risk for health problems, including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, high triglycerides, diabetes, heart disease and stroke if you have too much fat-especially if a lot of it is located in your waist area.
Diabetes Mellitus
Compared to women without diabetes, women with diabetes have from two to four times the risk of dying of heart disease and are at much greater risk of having a stroke. People with diabetes often have high blood pressure and high cholesterol and are overweight, increasing their risk even more.
Other Factors Which Contribute to the Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke in Women
High Triglyceride Levels
Triglyceride is a common type of fat in the body. Research suggests that having high triglycerides may increase the risk for stroke and heart disease in women more than for men. Checking triglycerides is typically part of the lipid panel done when cholesterol is checked, normal level is < 150.
Excessive Alcohol Intake
Excessive drinking and binge drinking can contribute to obesity, high triglycerides, cancer and other diseases, raise blood pressure, cause heart failure and lead to stroke. The risk of heart disease in people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol is lower than in nondrinkers (an average of one drink for women per day). However, it is not recommended that nondrinkers start using alcohol or increase the amount they drink.
Individual Response to Stress
People respond differently to situations they find stressful. Unhealthy responses to stress may lead to other risk behaviors like smoking and overeating. Research has not yet defined the role stress plays in the development of heart disease; however, it is good to identify ways to reduce your stress.