disease in women and children, here is an alert on what to look out
for.
Do you smoke, drink or lead a sedentary life? Do you have high blood
pressure, sugar or cholesterol levels? Are youunder stress due to
personal or professional problems? Do you think you are suffering from
Cardiovascular-Disease (CVD)? These questions arelargely applicable to
most people but are extremely crucial when it comes to women.
Why? The answer lies in the exponential increase inthe incidence of
CVDs among women. The death rate due to cardiac diseaseamong women has
increased from 30 per centin 1997 to 54 per cent in 2009 and the myth
that heart disease is a 'man's disease' has been debunked.
Underestimated
Almost half of the 17.3 million annual CVD's deaths occur in women,
though the risk is often underestimated. If you askwomen about the
greatesthealth problem they face, the majority would say breast
cancer. But it is CVD,which poses the greatest health problem for
women today. It claims the lives of more women than all forms of
cancer combined.
Children are also at risk since they have little control over their
environment and their heart-healthy choices can be limited. The other
reason is Congenital heart defect (CHD). This is causedby improper
development of the heart during foetal development. Mothers who do not
adhere to the special diet necessary to manage the disease during
pregnancy have a higher risk of having a child with congenital
heartdisease. Women with insulin-dependent diabetes may have a higher
risk of having a child with heart defects.
The most common cause of CVD is Atherosclerosis (hardening/clogging of
arteries caused by the build-up of cholesterol andfatty deposits
(called plaque) on the inner walls of the arteries. This restricts
blood flow to the heart.
Without adequate blood, the heart is starved of oxygen and the vital
nutrients it needs to work properly. When one or more of the coronary
arteries becomes blocked, a heart attack (injury to the heart muscle)
can occur.
The most important challenge is to identify thesymptoms in women
because these are often different (see box). Sixty four per cent of
women who died suddenly because of coronary heart disease had no
previous symptoms. The symptoms may occur with or withoutchest pain
and may come and go.
Risk factors
Older age: When woman reaches the age of 50-52 (the age of natural
menopause), the risk of heart disease increases dramatically
Family history: If your parents have CVDs, you have an increased risk
of developing it
Race: Risk of CVDs varies with race. For example, Afro-Americans have
moresevere high blood pressurethan Caucasians and are athigher risk of
CVDs. This is partly due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes in
these populations.
Remember, CVD is largely preventable. You can ensure your heart stays
healthy by following a healthy lifestyle. Your heart is in your hands.
Symptoms in women
A feeling of being squeezed or discomfort/pain in the chest, between
the breastsor behind the breastbone
Discomfort and/or radiating pain over arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
Shortness of breath, weakness or fatigue
Unusual anxiety or nervousness
Indigestion or gas-like pain, nausea
Sudden sweating, dizziness and collapse
What you can do
Be physically active, walk or work out regularly
Avoid foods full of salt, saturated and trans fats and sugar. Eat lots
of fruit and vegetables
Maintain a healthy weight
Quit smoking and avoid respiratory irritants
Limit or stop alcohol use
Stop smoking, avoid products containing tobacco
Those with lung problems should get annual influenza vaccination/
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