I DON’T KNOW if it’s just me, but having a heart attack seems to be synonymous with being male. Unfortunately, this could not be further from reality and the shocking fact is that, in the UK, 98 women are admitted to hospital following a heart attack every day! What is more, Coronary Heart Disease (the most common cause of a heart attack) is the biggest killer of women worldwide and kills twice as many women as breast cancer! If this news shocks you, read on:
Know your Enemy
If you are between 40 and 70, you are entitled to a free Health Check via your GP Surgery. It is a good opportunity to assess your risk of heart disease, as well as check for diabetes, dementia and kidney disease, and whether you are at risk of a stroke.
Even if you are fit and healthy, slight changes in your body could mark the beginnings of a chronic heart condition, such as palpitations or a pounding or fluttering heart. However, most people are likely to experience one of these sensations at some point in their life, and it is only when it occurs over a prolonged period of time, day on day, that you should be concerned.
Women’s hearts generally beat faster (80 beats per minute) than men’s (70 beats per minute) and they are more prone to irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia). Again, it is only when the heart unexpectantly starts racing and the heart-beat remains abnormally fast, that alarm bells should start ringing.
The signs of a heart attack can be different for women, with as many at 95% reporting physical symptoms as much as a month before the event, with 75% experiencing extreme tiredness, unusual sleep disturbances or shortness of breath. Along with the normal signs of a heart event such as chest pain and pressure, sweating, difficulty breathing and dizziness, more women report nausea and vomiting, and pain in the back and jaw.
Unfortunately, there is evidence that the hormonal changes that occur during menopause have an impact on health heart. It is known that oestrogen has an effect on the level of ‘good’ cholesterol in the blood. So, as oestrogen levels drop, low density (bad) lipid levels in the blood can increase. We all know ‘about middle-aged spread’ but only see the effect on the surface. Within the body, the increase in fat levels and cholesterol can lead to long-term constriction of the blood vessels, increasing blood pressure and paving the way to heart conditions such as atherosclerosis.
Never under-estimate the effect of stress! It is one of the hardest things to recognise but is a major contributor to heart disease. Chronic stress causes over-action of the adrenal glands and increase levels of adrenaline and cortisol, which can have a direct effect on the health of the blood vessels.
Think Positive
As a Super-A, you will already be aware of the factors that can have a negative impact on your general health, and heart health (smoking, drinking excessively, fast food, sedentary lifestyle). A good diet (preferably ‘Mediterranean’), weight control and stress reduction are all extremely important contributors to life-long heart health. Regular ‘steady state’ and cardio-vascular exercises will further increase the benefits of healthy living. Take control of your own heart health and check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels periodically. Love your Body, treasure your Heart.
