Heart disease is a general term used to describe several diseases that affect your heart. The range of heart diseases includes the disorders of your blood vessels supplying blood to your heart, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia) and heart defects you may have by birth. Heart disease is also used synonymously with Cardiovascular Disease which is related to the narrowing or blockage of blood vessels that supply blood to the heart resulting in heart attack, chest pain or loss of blood supply to the brain (Stroke). The coronary artery is the blood vessel that supplies blood to the heart muscle (Myocardium). When a blood clot forms in the coronary artery blocking the blood supply and damaging or injuring the heart muscle, a heart attack occurs.
The risk in women
Women are equally at risk for heart diseases and heart attacks as men, though women develop heart problems seven to eight years later in life than men. When women reach the age of sixty-five, the risk is the same as that in men. Among women above the age of sixty-five, heart disease is the most important cause of death. In American women, the risk of death from heart disease is four to six times higher than that from breast cancer. Heart diseases kill more women above the age of sixty-five than all types of cancers. In the last twenty years, the rates of heart attacks among women aged 35 to 54 have been increasing.
When heart attacks occur, women are more likely to die than men. No one knows why. The reason could be that women do not receive the same treatment as men or it is difficult to diagnose heart diseases in women than in men. It may be because of women’s smaller hearts and blood vessels can be easily damaged than in men. Though efforts are being made to find the answers, it provides a better reason to prevent heart diseases and heart attacks, especially in women.
Protect yourself
You can avoid the risk of heart disease by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Your heart is a muscle and needs regular exercise to keep away from the risks. You may undertake aerobic exercises such as cycling, swimming, walking, and jogging or engage yourself in indoor exercises such as treadmills, bicycles and ski machines. Exercise at least for 30 to 60 minutes a day four to six times a week. Being overweight can lead to a host of other complications and put you at risk of heart disease. Control your weight as advised. Prefer low-calorie foods while avoiding high-fat content foods such as meats and dairy products.
Manage your blood pressure. Keeping the blood pressure within the limits can limit the risk of heart attack and stroke. You can control blood pressure by eating healthy food, regular exercise, controlling your weight, taking less salt in your diet and taking medicines regularly as recommended by your doctor. Keep your blood cholesterol at healthy levels. Regular screening resorting to low-cholesterol foods and taking medications as advised by your doctor are some of the right ways to control your cholesterol level.
Chest pain may be a sign of a heart attack and if you feel pain in your chest, shoulder, neck or jaw, feel nausea and experience breathing problems, then arrange to get to the hospital as immediately as possible.
More than 50% of heart attacks in women below the age of 50 are associated with smoking. The risk is higher in women who smoke and also use birth control pills. If you stop smoking, you can reduce the risk of heart attack by one-third within two years.
Medications for lowering the risks
There are many medicines used to lower the risk of heart disease. Some of the examples are:
- Cholesterol (A kind of fat) reducing medicines are advised if you already had a heart attack
- Blood thinning medicines such as aspirin are helpful. In case of gastrointestinal problems, your doctor may prescribe other medicines.
- If you experience chest pain, your doctor may prescribe medicines;
- that block the effect of stress-causing hormones, namely beta-blockers (such as atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol) to reduce the stress on your heart and decrease blood pressure,
- that lower lipids, namely statins, (such as simvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and rosuvastatin) to reduce cholesterol, and
- that dilate blood vessels, namely ACE inhibitors (such as lisinopril, ramipril, enalapril, or captopril) to prevent heart failure and lower blood pressure.
Ensure to consult your medical provider always for new medicines, change of medications and for stopping of any medications.
Estrogen replacement therapy
Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone produced in ovaries before menopause and in muscles and fat tissue after menopause. Menopause is the normal change in every woman’s life when her menstruation stops which generally occurs after the age of 45years. Menopause occurs because the ovaries stop producing sex hormones estrogen and progesterone (Progesterone is the hormone that controls menstruation and prepares the lining of the uterus to receive the fertilized egg).
Estrogen replacement therapy also called hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment given to substitute hormones in conditions such as menopause. It was once thought that HRT could help to protect the patient against heart disease. New studies do not recommend HRT as it seems to do more harm than good. Hence, HRT does not reduce the risk of heart attack and if you are already on HRT, it is advisable to consult your doctor whether you should stop HRT.
Prognosis in the fairer sex
Women are less likely to survive heart attacks and in women, the risk of death from heart attack is higher compared to cancer. You can protect yourself by adopting a healthy lifestyle and taking medications to lower the risk of heart disease and heart attack. If you are already undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT), you may need to consult your doctor about whether you should relinquish the therapy.
