Proactive Approach Every Women Should Take for Heart Health
Heart disease is often considered to affect mostly men but it’s also one of the leading causes of death in women. Over 30% of women are diagnosed with coronary heart disease in India. Women tend to disregard their well-being and are unaware of their risk factors. They never get their heart health assessment until during menopause and pregnancy condition. Every woman must have heart health awareness and take certain proactive steps to prevent heart disease and potentially live longer.
Know Your Family History: Heart disease can be genetic. If your parents, grandparents or close family members ever had a history of heart disease or heart attack, or had certain risk factors like diabetes, cholesterol or high blood pressure, you may be at risk of developing it as well. Ask your family about any heart conditions or events that may have happened and get checked early on.
Adopt Healthy Diet and Lifestyle: Women must switch to a nutritious diet that includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid sugar, salt and trans-fat food items. Instead eat heart-healthy fats like almonds, avocados, salmon, etc. Keep your heart in optimal state with regular exercise, preferably cardio and strength training. Even a brisk walk for 30 minutes can make a big difference.
Manage Your Stress Levels: Excessive stress can raise your blood pressure levels resulting in sudden heart attack. Practice stress relief activities such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. Involve in socializing with your friends and family, or engage in fun activities like painting, reading or spending time in nature to reduce depression and stress.
Get Adequate Sleep: Peaceful adequate sleep is important for women’s heart health and wellbeing. It’s recommended that women must get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night without interruption. Diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and other health issues can result from inadequate sleep.
Make Routine Check-Ups: Regular check-ups with the doctor are crucial to identifying potential cardiac problems early. Frequent ECGs, cholesterol screenings, and other heart health tests can monitor cardiovascular health and spot problems early on.
Limit Your Alcohol Intake: Drinking too much alcohol can cause triglyceride levels to rise, blood pressure to rise, and cause heart disease. Drinking less alcohol or getting help from medical professionals can all help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Give Up Smoking: Smoking damages blood arteries, increases blood pressure, and contributes to atherosclerosis, all of which are significant risk factors for heart disease in women. One of the best things women can do to strengthen their heart is to give up smoking.
Maintain Proper Hydration: Maintaining blood volume through adequate water consumption facilitates the heart’s ability to pump blood. One of the women’s heart health facts is that, at the very least, they should aim to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day.
Heart disease can occur at any age in women which is why they must empower themselves to keep their health first and live a full, healthier life. Medwin Heart Care Clinic enables their patients for such preventive strategies to minimize the risk and complications of heart disease.
