Women's Health - Right in the heart If you think that men are more vulnerable to heart disease than women, think again. Do not wait for a warning sign - start taking care of your heart today.
Statistics show one in three women in Australia is at risk of heart attack, angina pectoris, stroke and peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Worse yet, two thirds of women who die suddenly of a heart attack had no previous symptoms, according to the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health. Age, smoking, lack of exercise, weight gain, diabetes and poor nutrition all increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, such as family history can.
The good news is that changes in lifestyle may simply reduce your chances of having a stroke or heart attack, says Dr. Susan Davis, President of Women's Health at Monash University in Melbourne.
Regular exercise
Regular exercise is an extremely important factor in women's health . Daily exercise can help control your weight and your blood sugar, strengthen your heart, lower blood pressure, increase HDL (good cholesterol) and lower LDL (bad cholesterol). "Women should be moderate endurance exercise type for at least 40 minutes three times a week and include more activity in their daily lives," says Davis.
heart healthy diet
Eat lots of fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants and vitamins such as folic acid is also crucial for heart health. There is evidence that replacing unhealthy fats with polyunsaturated fatty acids found in oily fish, leafy plants, canola oil and flaxseed may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Stop smoking
Quitting smoking will also improve your heart health. Nearly 40 percent of smoking-related deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease, according to NSW Health. This is because smoking increases a process called artery-clogging atherosclerosis.
Posted on February 27, 2010.
