Women more prone to heart attacks – says research

Women more prone toRecent researches say that cardiovascular disease is increasing in women. Although many people think of heart disease is a man's problem but women can and do get heart disease. The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. This is called coronary artery disease and happens slowly over time. It's the major reason people have heart attacks.

Prevention is important: two-thirds of women who have a heart attack fail to make a full recovery.

The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease. But women of all ages should be conce
ed about heart disease. All women can take steps to prevent heart disease by practicing healthy lifestyle habits.

Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, ICRS says “Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women over age 25. It kills nearly twice as many women in the United States than all types of cancer, including breast cancer. Women's risk of heart disease increases after menopause.”

He further adds “Women may have warning signs that they ignore for weeks, months, and even years before having a heart attack. Some doctors still do not recognize the warning signs reported by female patients.” The symptoms of heart illness in women can be similar to men which includes tightness in the chest, arm pain, and shortness of breath. However it may also include signs such as nausea, fatigue, indigestion, anxiety and dizziness.

Dr. Srivastava emphasizes on the importance of early detection of such heart ailments. Recognising and treating a heart attack right away improves your chances of survival. Many researchers have shown that treating people with early signs can prevent heart attack and decrease the amount of damage done to heart muscle.

Managing the risk factor should be a priority when one has chances of increased risk of related diseases or a certain health condition. Women are advised to take charge of their health by working with their doctor to address risk factors, and keep tabs on cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and lifestyle.

Women who smoke have double the risk of heart attack as compared to them who don’t smoke. Smoking leads to inflammation in the blood vessels which later leads to reduced blood flow to the heart. This leads to higher risk of heart stroke.
The best precautionary measure is to exercise at least for 30 min which helps to stay fit. Diet high in fruits and vegetables and avoidance of fatty foods will lower the risk.
heart attacks – says research