Over the last 10 years, there has been a steady rise in the occurrence of heart attacks among women. Worldwide, one-third of all deaths among women occur due to heart diseases. When it comes to the causes, blocked coronary arteries are the culprits and the narrowing of these is a condition that develops over time.
In middle-age, women are at the highest risk of developing heart diseases but the surprising part is that their heart attack symptoms are completely unrelated to chest pains. Some symptoms include neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back, left arm, or abdominal pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, sweating, light-headedness, dizziness, and unusual fatigue.
Three reasons why women suffer from heart diseases:
Menopause
Once a woman reaches menopause, the risk of heart diseases increases. This is because oestrogen is an important element in their bodies that keeps certain diseases at bay.
Family history
If their father or brother has had a heart attack before the age of 55 or if their mother or sister has had one before 65, women are more likely to develop heart disease.
Stress or depression
Due to depression, constant stress, and anxiety, people may find it more difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow the recommended treatments.
Even though menopause is one of the leading causes of heart diseases, women of different ages need to take care of their health and bodies. Here are some tips…
In your 20s…Deep dive into your family history and check for factors like blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Stay healthy, maintain an active social life and eat seasonal, local fruits and vegetables.
In your 30s…Hone your stress management skills and try to stay away from smoking and alcohol consumption. Make sure you’re eating clean whenever possible.
In your 40s…Monitor your weight, make sure you eat clean and have a sustainable workout plan in place. Consult a nutritionist to make sure all your vitamin levels are sufficient.
In your 50s…Make sure you have an active lifestyle. Check with your physician if you have any questions about your health and keep an eye on your sodium levels so that your blood pressure is under control.