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It’s a
heartbreaking statistic: One out of every three women in the
United States will die of heart disease. But making simple
lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of heart
attack— one of the most serious results of heart disease and the
leading cause of death for women in the United States.
“The good news about heart disease is that it is often
preventable if you reduce the risk factors,” says
Jose Mejia, M.D., a
cardiologist with The Austin
Diagnostic Clinic.
Heart Healthy Choices
A woman should let her heart rule her head when making lifestyle
choices. Quitting smoking (or never starting), eating healthy
foods and exercising are more than remnants of last month’s New
Year’s resolution. They are the key to a healthy heart.
“Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps you can
take in preventing heart disease,” says Mejia. “The minute you
reduce your tobacco intake, your risk of heart disease begins to
drop. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day have more than
twice the risk of heart attack than nonsmokers.”
Eating a healthy diet and exercising can help lower high
cholesterol levels and reduce high blood pressure — major risk
factors for heart disease in women. Too much fat in the diet can
cause cholesterol to build up in the bloodstream, leading to
blockages of coronary arteries that feed the heart. Too much
salt can increase blood pressure, which forces the heart to work
harder than it should.
But healthy eating alone is only a half-hearted attempt at
reducing heart disease.
“Inactive women are almost twice as likely to have heart disease
as women who exercise,” Mejia explains. “Make the time to
exercise at least 30 minutes a day. It’s good for the heart,
good for the soul and can help prevent a whole host of other
diseases too.”
Sometimes good health habits aren’t enough to ensure that a
woman’s cholesterol levels and blood pressure are in an
acceptable range. Simple screening tests performed by a doctor
can determine if medication may be needed.
There are also some heart disease risk factors that women simply
can’t control such as age and family history.
“After age 50, a woman’s risk of heart disease and stroke begins
to increase,” Mejia explains. “In addition, a woman whose mother
or sister had a heart attack before age 65 or whose father or
brother had one before age 55 is more likely to develop heart
disease. Keeping the heart as healthy as possible can minimize a
woman’s risk.”
Warning Signs
Sometimes a woman will get heart disease despite her best
efforts to stay healthy. But learning the warning signs for
heart attack and stroke can help prevent unnecessary heart
damage — or death. Women are more likely to die from hearts
attacks than men because they often don’t recognize the warning
signs.
“Women can have very different heart attack warning signs than
men,” says Mejia. “While chest pain is common to both men and
women, many women experience symptoms that may seem harmless.
Any woman who suddenly experiences or has prolonged pain or
discomfort in the upper body, including the shoulders, arms,
back, neck or jaw; shortness of breath; dizziness; extreme
fatigue; nausea; indigestion; or anxiety, should see their
doctor immediately.”
“Every woman is at risk for heart disease, but it’s not
inevitable” says Mejia. “If you’re over the age of 20, you
should have yearly conversations with your doctor to discuss
your heart health. It’s never too early – or too late – to take
care of your heart.”
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