Let The Women’s Day Serve As A Reminder For Them To Take Care Of Their Heart

Women usually do not exhibit classic signs of a heart attack and often receive delayed care at emergency facilities

William Shakespeare adorned women and their love for a kind heart through his words “A woman would run through fire and water for such a kind heart.” But the time for women to take care of their own hearts has arrived. It is becoming more evident that women of all ages and ethnicities are affected by heart disease which has become the leading cause of death worldwide. However, a significant number of women remain ignorant of their risk for heart ailments.

Lifestyle choices such as smoking and consumption of excess alcohol clubbed with unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity, stress are increasing the incidence of high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity in younger women. Some also face complications during pregnancy such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Though these pregnancy-induced conditions are self-limiting with the birth of the child,  if neglected,  there is an increased risk for new-onset heart disease. 

Women usually do not exhibit classic signs of a heart attack and often receive delayed care at emergency facilities. The level of suspicion for heart attacks is lower among women, and they miss opportunities to undergo screenings for heart diseases. Gender biases still exist in screening for congenital heart diseases among girl children and this could present cardiac complications during pregnancy.

The transition into menopause is a period of high risk due to the interplay of hormones and mood swings causing water retention, rise in blood pressure and release of excess cholesterol into blood. Many women get diagnosed to have hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and new onset atherosclerosis in menopause. 

Following simple tips for preventive care of heart ailments can empower women to remain healthy and protect themselves from ever developing heart diseases.

Exercise regularly: Exercise helps improve cardiovascular health by increasing blood circulation and strengthening the muscles around the heart. Thirty minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each day, such as walking or swimming can boost your heart health. If you cannot exercise for long periods at a stretch, you can break it down into 10-minute chunks throughout the day. Choose activities that fit into your daily routines, such as walking, cycling, swimming, or dancing. 

Get regular check-ups: Cardiac healthcare is an essential part of overall health, and preventive care plays a crucial role in helping to keep the heart healthy. Preventive cardiac healthcare aims to identify potential problems before they become serious, which can help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease or other heart-related conditions. Regular visits with your doctor will help detect any potential problems before they become serious ones that could adversely affect your heart health. Be sure to get regular checkups, even if you are feeling healthy. 

Preventive and rehabilitation programs concerning heart health: There are apps that can help patients track their health and provides an online concierge who helps facilitate decision-making regarding in-home recovery. Supported by a state-of-the-art wearable smartwatch, the device can help monitor patients’ heart health and feeds patient wellness data into the corresponding app. It further provides preventive care regarding heart conditions/heart failure, through monitoring physical activity and sending medication reminders. 

Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs: Explore the available CR programs that are designed to optimise a cardiac patient’s physical, psychological, and social functioning. These are “multi-disciplinary” model of care designed to mitigate the great burden of cardiovascular disease and are evidence-based, secondary prevention strategy that has shown to be effective in not only preventing cardiovascular events but also improving 1-year and 5-year mortality. 

Understanding how factors like lifestyle, diet, and stress can impact heart health can dispel many myths about the disease. Women ought to be empowered through education and comprehension to enable them to prioritise their own heart health, rather than solely being concerned about their spouse's heart health and the risk factors and warning signs of heart failure among women. Remember that prevention is always better than cure, so take the necessary steps today to ensure a healthier tomorrow.

(The article is written on the author's own perspectivs. Author is the founder and CEO of Numen Health)