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Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of U.S. women. It kills more women
than breast cancer, AIDS, female-organ diseases and car accidents. Yet, most women don’t realize this important fact. In a recent survey, 80% of women polled named something other than heart disease as the top cause of death for women. Clearly, heart disease has an image problem! Did you know that heart disease – a term commonly used to describe narrowing of the blood vessels restricting blood flow to the heart and the brain – can begin forming in your 20s and 30s? Did you know that 13% of U.S. women 45 or older have had a heart attack? Did you know that women are more likely than men to die after heart attack and bypass surgery, more likely to have a second heart attack – and to develop heart failure? Did you know that heart disease can grow without exhibiting any symptoms? Did you know that you can do a lot to prevent heart disease? Think of coronary arteries as your home’s plumbing system. Just like pipes that can clog over time, blood vessels start filling up with fatty material called plaque instead of rust and corrosion in the pipes. Plaque sticks to the inside wall of your blood vessels, leading to narrowing and even complete obstruction of blood flow. This may lead to heart attack and strokes. Heart disease is a progressive disease. It can start forming early in adulthood. I consider a woman’s heart life in three phases: Youth (20s): You’re young, healthy and feeling unstoppable. You consider heart disease an “old man’s problem.” But this is when heart disease can get a foothold. Most women at this age see physicians only for issues related to reproductive health. A significant number get diagnosed with a pre-existing heart disease for the first time around their pregnancy. The types of heart disease at this time are usually congenital and/or structural in nature. Stress time (30s and 40s): The pace of life picks up with high-pressure jobs, pregnancy, parenting and seemingly too few hours in a day. This is when symptoms may show up, either from congenital conditions as in the younger age group, or from coronary artery disease as in the next phase of life. Post-menopausal (50s and older): This is the most likely time for a diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Regular screenings with your doctor are important. Certain factors put you at risk for having coronary artery disease/heart disease: • Gender and age: Women, and anyone 55 and older. • Family history, especially any close relative who had a heart attack at a young age. • Hypertension, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. • Tobacco use after age 35: Women who smoke are at risk of having a heart attack 19 years earlier than non-smoking women. • Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption. • Oral contraception use. • Type A (ambitious, driven) personality. • Clinical depression. • High-stress occupation. Fortunately, some of the risk factors can be controlled. For example, improving eating habits and exercise will improve overall health and reduce stress, which can significantly lower the risk of heart disease. For women in their 20s and 30s, the best preventive steps are keeping cholesterol levels normal and modifying risk factors through diet and exercise. Do: • Exercise: At least 30 minutes of aerobic-type activity, minimum of three times a week. • Limit your caloric intake: Total calories per day should be your weight in pounds multiplied by 15, with moderate physical activity. For example, a 140-pound woman who is moderately active needs (140 x 15 =) 2,100 calories per day. • Drink plenty of water. • Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain cereal, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, fish and skinless poultry. • Limit salt intake. Don’t: • Consume full-fat milk, egg yolks, butter, ice cream and hydrogenated vegetable oil. • Limit red meat and poultry with skin. Pregnant women bear special attention regarding heart disease. Many complain of shortness of breath and reduced exercise capacity, which may be dismissed as a common occurrence in a normal pregnancy. If these symptoms are bothersome, it is time to visit a doctor. Heart disease is a concern for all women of all ages. While treatments such as drugs and surgery enable patients to manage heart disease, the quality of life tends to suffer. Keep in mind, there is no cure. Except prevention. Dr. Afshan Hameed is a board-certified cardiologist and an OB/GYN at UCI Medical Center, Orange County’s only university hospital, which has been named one of the nation’s best hospitals for gynecology by U.S. News & World Report. Information: www.ucihealth.com or call toll free 714.456.2911. For Letters: ocfamily.com and click on Feedback. |
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