Do you know and love a woman? protect her heart

How many people realize that women’s coronary arteries are understudied, underdiagnosed, and undertreated? The Cleveland Clinic, a leading cardiology center, says heart disease is seven times more deadly for women than breast cancer. The build-up of plaque in the heart arteries contributes to the death of one in three women, more than all cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and accidents combined.
But heart disease kills even more men. This fact and the historical focus on heart disease in men mean that most people are unaware of the risk factors for heart disease in women.
A report by the American Heart Association (AHA) states that since 1980 there have been stunning improvements in both sexes’ mortality rates from coronary artery disease (CAD). But women haven’t shared the benefits equally.
Maurice Chevalier, the French actor and singer, wasn’t thinking about coronary arteries when he remarked “vive la différence”. But the difference makes heart attacks the number one killer in women.
Heart attack has been considered a male disease because it occurs earlier in life in men. But after menopause, the gender gap disappears. But many do not know that CHD attacks in women.
Can women’s CHD risk be spotted by loved ones? Chest pain is the most common symptom in both sexes. But at least a third of women don’t show this classic symptom during a heart attack. Rather, they complain of shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, palpitations, dizziness, severe anxiety, or pain in the jaw, neck, upper back, or arm. These problems can be mistaken for a panic attack with fatal delay in diagnosis.
Suppose a family member or friend is a good diagnostician and calls 911 right away. Even then, studies show that an immediate electrocardiogram or stress test is less likely to detect the typical signs of a heart attack.
Even if a woman is diagnosed with a heart attack early and survives, bypass surgery may be needed. But she is twice as likely to die during surgery or shortly after.
Cardiac surgeons can explain why. Coronary arteries are smaller in women. This makes the procedure technically more demanding when vessels the diameter of spaghetti are connected to one another.
What should we do to reduce the risk of CHD? First, a woman should see a psychiatrist if she smokes, since the risk of heart attack is seven times higher in smokers.
Know your family history. If your father or brother had a heart attack before the age of 55, or your mother or sister before the age of 65, your risk increases significantly. It’s a red flag warning against “taking preventive action.”
If you have a history of cardiovascular disease, a daily dose of 81 milligrams of aspirin can help. However, since aspirin can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, always discuss this medication with your doctor.
Remember that obesity leads to type 2 diabetes, which in turn increases the risk of heart attack. Gaining weight on your own is easy; Losing weight alone is difficult. But if you are obese, losing weight improves health. Good strategies and self-help groups help. Mere will is probably not enough. Family and friends need to work together to lose weight.
Have your blood pressure checked. A third of heart attacks in women could be prevented by controlling blood pressure.
When blood cholesterol levels are elevated, most cardiologists recommend cholesterol-lowering medications. However, be sure to discuss this with your doctor as there are effective and safer natural options.
If you’ve read this column for years, you know that high-dose vitamin C with lysine kept this doctor alive for 25 years after suffering a massive heart attack.
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