Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is thought of as a man’s disease, but this isn’t true. In fact it’s the number one leading cause of death in Indian women and the risk is eight times greater than that of breast cancer.
Another misconception is that CVD occurs above the age of 50, nowadays people in their early 30’s and living in the city are extremely susceptible to a sudden onset. Whatever age a woman is at it’s time to begin taking proactive measures for a strong and healthy heart.
Though it is true that women have a lesser risk to CVD it’s only before menopause. The natural production of estrogen in women protects the heart, delaying the risk of having a heart attack by 10 to 15 years later than men.
After menopause the significant drop in estrogen puts women at a much greater risk than men. Women whose menses began before the age of 11, or became menopausal at the age of 47 or below are at greater risk of a heart attack, so are women who have recurrent miscarriages.
About 12% of people that have a heart attack in India are below the age of 40, which is double the number in the West. City life puts people at 3 times the risk due to lack of excursion which results in diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and many other factors which are stronger causes of heart attack in women than in men.
South Asian women are at great risk of cardiovascular disease as they are unlikely to receive timely intervention as compared to men. South-Asian women tend to be lax when it comes to taking care of themselves, as the age old adage of putting the family first and foremost is carried forward through centuries.
Women of our nation have the habit of brushing pain aside, after all the greatest pain felt by a woman is during the birth of a child and comparatively everything else is ‘discomfort’.
The biggest problem is the lack of awareness that heart disease in women doesn’t always manifest itself as it does in men; often times there is no conventional angina pain on the left arm or left chest that occurs. The symptoms of heart disease in women could be pain in the jaw, back pain, or trouble breathing which could be ignored as something trivial; even if she goes to a clinic or hospital there is a chance of it being overlooked by a doctor.
Cardiovascular disease is preventable and corrective measures should be taken immediately. Regular checkups of cholesterol levels, removing all trans-fats, taking alcohol in limited amounts, and exercising regularly for 30 minutes a day can prove to be mighty beneficial.
Focus on diet is the greatest boon, taking a good daily amount of fruits and vegetables, dried nuts, and good cholesterol producing fats can provide multiple benefits. These preventative measures can combat multiple diseases such as the commonly plaguing thyroid, diabetes and high blood pressure. Simple yet life-changing alterations to diet and lifestyle will not rob a child of a mother, and a husband from his beloved wife.
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