Straight From The Heart

Just like men, women are also prone to heart attack and other heart diseases. It should be known that based on studies, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women above 65 years old. They are four to six times more likely to die of heart disease than breast cancer and it kills more women over 65 than all kinds of cancers combined.

Compared to men, women develop heart problems later in life, usually seven or eight years later. However, when a woman reach 65, the risk is just the same as the man's. Here is another piece of information, do you know that women are less likely to survive heart attacks than men? Unfortunately, until now this is a question yet to be answered.

However, there are speculations that it is because women do not seek or receive treatment as soon as men. Another theory is the possibility that women's smaller hearts and blood vessels are more easily damaged as compared to men's. Above all this, one thing is definitely certain, heart problem is an issue for both men and women.

There are a number of things that you can do to lower your risk from heart disease. First and the most common step is to quit smoking. Studies show that smoking is a major factor for heart disease in women. Statistics show that more than half of heart attacks in women under 50 years old are related to smoking.

Staying away from nicotine can lower your risk of heart disease by one third within two years. Smoking women who also use contraceptives have high risk. I know that it's difficult to stop smoking especially if you've been used to it, but there are a number of products that can help you like nicotine skin patches or nicotine gum which are available over the counter. Aside from that, there are also *prescription medicines* available that can help you quit.

You can also talk to your doctor about the best way for you to quit smoking. Second, you should monitor your blood pressure. Maintaining a normal blood pressure can also lower your chance of heart attack and stroke. Losing weight, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet are simple ways that you can do to help control high blood pressure. It is also a great help if you would reduce your salt intake and cholesterol level.

Maintaining a healthy weight is another way to lessen the risk of heart attack. To lose weight, engage in physical exercise and low-fat diet. Overweight individuals have a higher chance of developing health problems especially diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. In case you're overweight, talk to your doctor and ask ways to lose weights safely. Another significant way is to have a regular exercise.

Always bear in mind that the heart is a muscle and therefore it also needs some exercise. You can perform aerobic exercises like brisk walking, swimming, jogging, or biking. There are also fitness equipment that you can use such as stationary bikes, treadmills, and ski machines when exercising inside the house. Exercise for at least 30 minutes to one hour, four to six times a week. Before you start any health program, always consult a doctor.

If you are a diabetic, you must monitor your health with extra caution and always check your blood sugar level. When it comes to food, eat a low-fat diet. Always keep fat calories to 30% or less of the total calories you take in a day. Avoid saturated fat like fat from meats and coconut oil. Also, be conscious of chest pain. Not all chest pains are always caused by heart disease. Make sure to call your physician if you suffered from pain in your chest, shoulder, neck, or jaw. Notify your doctor if you feel abrupt shortness of breath or nausea.

Lastly, it is advisable if you know your family history. If you have a father or brother with heart disease before age 55, or a mother or sister with heart disease before age 65, take extra caution because these are factors that contribute to heart disease. You should also inform your doctor about your family history. These are just of the helpful things that you should take to heart.

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