Woman Heart

This is probably one of the biggest health myths: that it's just men who are at risk of heart disease. Researchers have now busted that myth. Doctors note that statistics prove that women, especially those who have attained menopause, are prone to heart ailments, and also less likely than men to recover.

When it comes to numbers, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in men is still higher than women, but it is increasingly becoming common in the latter and the consequences much worse.More women have died from heart disease than men, since women are twice as likely to die within the first few weeks of suffering a heart attack than men.

 

The number of cardiovascular diseases in women in India is increasing rapidly and accounts for 17 percent female mortality. Heart disease kills twice as many women as all cancers combined.
One of the biggest reasons for women becoming victims to heart ailments is lifestyle-related.

In the US and Europe, more women are taking up smoking, while men are quitting. In India too, you see a lot more women smoking these days. You have these fancy hookah bars which are also popular. Smoking again strips you of a protective cover and is a big contributing factor to heart ailments.

One of the reasons for it is smoking. To add to that is the increase in the level of stress that women face - work-related or whatever.

Obesity, hypertension, diabetes and depression are other risk factors.

Unlike in men, where chest pain in the centre is one of the symptoms, in women, the signs are much more subtle. There is no severe chest pain, but a general weakness and discomfort. This leads to women ignoring the problem until late.

Also, in women, coronary artery disease usually affects the smaller arteries, which causes less severe symptoms. But the outcome is much worse.
 

Another feature of women - that of high tolerance for pain - may also act against them in this case.

Women have a tendency to underplay the symptoms. If there is a mild pain, they will ignore it as gas. If a man has a pain, he is more likely to seek help, and that helps detect the problem. So there needs to be an attitudinal change.

 
For women in the menopausal age and others, the only way out to cut the risk factor is keeping fit. It could be through regular exercising, controlling cholesterol levels, diabetes and hypertension, cutting down on alcohol and salt intake, and kicking the butt.

Since Indians are so prone to heart diseases, more care should be taken to cut the risk factors. 

 

Take care and God bless.