Women and Heart Attack: Causes, Investigation, Prevention and How to Control

Women and Heart Attack: Only a decade back, attacks of heart disease in India on women were not that rampant. It was believed that females were rather protected against this disease, at least up to the age of menopause, because of their oestrogen factor.

Today they are vulnerable to this attack as their counterpart. Heart disease is striking women at younger ages due to increasing incidences of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity in altered social conditions and demands.

Women and Heart Attack: Dr. H.P. Bharathi

Causes:

For heart diseases, causes could be many, the most prevalent being predisposing genetics and faulty lifestyle. The hereditary aspect, however, contributes less than 10% of the real risk. In most cases, unhealthy living habits determine the risk. Eating wrong food, lack of exercise, obesity, irregular sleeping habits, smoking, and high levels of stress—all contribute to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type II diabetes, which create atherosclerotic plaque, a fatty substance. It will eventually narrow and close off vital arteries and will cut the flow of blood to the heart, leading to cardiac arrest.

In India, women are particularly prone to such attacks because of various psychological, social and biological reasons. Women, generally, feel that they are less likely to have a heart attack and neglect themselves. Studies show that women tend to receive less aggressive treatment for heart disease than men. Traditionally, alarming symptoms such as breathlessness associated with weakness, unusual fatigue, cold sweat, giddiness, neck and shoulder pain, etc. in women are often overlooked or deemed usual and do not receive immediate medical attention.

On the other hand, standard diagnostic tests, such as a treadmill test that measures future heart attack risk, show a strong gender bias against women and report more false negatives and false positives than for men.

In a coronary angiogram, clogging muck is often more diffused in female arteries and, therefore, less noticeable, thus missing the diagnosis.

Investigation:

The best methods to assess the risk factor are a cardiac CT scan, MRI and ABI (Ankle-Brachial Index). Since cardiac CT scans and MRIs are expensive, one can opt for ABI. Here, one just compares the blood pressure taken at the ankle with the arm. If the pressure is significantly lower at the ankle, it suggests that blood is having a hard time getting through stiff vessels.

Prevention:

Of all the preventive measures, changes in lifestyle are most effective and hence essential to keep the heart healthy.

Exercise regularly:

The heart is a muscle, and it needs regular exercise to stay in shape. This habit is the single most powerful tool in preventing heart diseases.

Women, who walk 30 minutes a day, slash their risk by 30-40%. Yoga, which takes care of both mind and body, helps relax and enables one to handle the stress positively.

Maintain a healthy weight:

Extra weight puts strain on the heart and arteries. Exercise and a low-fat diet help lose weight. Most women need 1500-2000 calories a day for good health. Focus should be on eating lots of fruits and vegetables.

Waist Size:

Of all the indications, whether weight is affecting the health of the heart or waist size is most handy. To check the waistline, wrap a tape around around your abdomen or near belly button. For women, if it crosses 88 cm / 35 inches, the health risk begins. More accurate measure is waist to hip ratio. Calculate by dividing waist circumference at its narrowest point by hip circumference as its widest point. A value of more than 0.85 in women shows central obesity and indicates metabolic syndrome and group of risk factors that can accompany heart disease.

When body fat is packed into abdomen, the fat cells release inflammatory chemicals in and around internal organs, which disturb the appetite-controlling proteins. As a result, risk of heart attack increases as inflammation
speeds up atherosclerosis.

In addition, risk of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome rises as inflammatory substances interfere with muscle and liver cell functions. Meanwhile, natural appetite suppressing system is disrupted leading to overeating.

Cholesterol, Triglycerides count:

Diet plays a key part in lowering high cholesterol and triglycerides level. Eat plenty of whole grain, fruit, vegetable and raw, fresh and unsalted nuts rich in omega-3. Along with diet, exercise is a must.

Control Blood Pressure:

Adequate measure has to be taken to keep BP in control. Exercise, a healthy balanced diet and reduction of salt consumption will all help.

Control of Diabetes:

Diabetics should be extra cautious. Exercise, balance diet, a check and control of sugar level and body weight-all are essential.

Quit Smoking:

Smoking habit is harder on women’s heart than on men’s. The longer a person smokes, the higher risk of heart disease.

Be aware of chest pain:

Be sure to contact doctor immediately if you feel pain in chest, neck and jaw. Also notify doctor if experiencing shortness of breath or nausea.

And God forbid, in the event of an attack, the faster you can get to the hospital, the lessser the damage is. Every second counts.