Take Good Care Of Her Heart

by Darline Turner Lee, Physician Assistant, ACSM Exercise Specialist

Article Last Reviewed: Sept. 9, 2006

Women were once touted as the weaker, fairer sex. In the middle ages, it was not uncommon for a woman to come down with “the vapors” when in the midst of stressful situations. Classic movies show women delicately fainting away in the midst of strife whilst the gallant gentleman carries her away before he “slays all the demons”.

This just does not happen, at least not anymore. Since the sexual revolution of the 1960’s, women have assumed more responsibility inside and outside the home. They are holding positions of great political, business and financial importance. Women have made significant strides towards equality with men. An unfortunate result is women are fast approaching men in the rates at which they develop heart disease.

It is now known that women have a lower incidence of heart disease and heart attack in their pre-menopausal years than men. It is also known that once women passes through menopause, the incidences of heart disease and heart attack approach and are surpassing those of men of the same age. It is also noted that women tend to have a poorer prognosis when they develop heart disease and are more likely to die from a heart attack. (American Heart Association Statistics-Women and Cardiovascular Disease)

So what can be done? What is a woman to do in the face of these glaring statistics?

· Maintain regular preventive care. See a doctor annually and be sure to have your blood pressure checked, your heart examined and your blood cholesterol levels measured. If you are over the age of 50 or are having symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, arm pain, fatigue or lightheadedness have an electrocardiogram to identify hidden abnormalities. Your doctor may also order a stress treadmill test to further evaluate for heart anomalies.

· Follow the instructions that your physician gives regarding any prescribed medications. Medications only work when they are taken as prescribed. If you have questions, ask. If you are having any unpleasant side effects, discuss them immediately with your physician. Don’t just stop taking the medication!!

· If you smoke, QUIT! Smoking is the single most modifiable risk factor to heart disease. Your doctor can prescribe medications that can help you quit. There are also numerous programs in the community that can also help you quit smoking and support you through the process.

· Increase your physical activity. Try to incorporate at least 20-30 minutes of physical activity into your day. This can be in the form of a single walk, jog, swim or bicycle ride. It can also be numerous short jaunts taken during the day. Take stairs instead of elevators. Dance. Garden. As Nike says, “Just do it!”

· Reduce Stress. If you find that you are prone to stressful situations or are an excitable individual, you may benefit from stress reduction techniques. These techniques serve to relax tense muscles, lower the heart rate and ease breathing. Some great stress busters are yoga, tai chi and sequential muscle relaxation.

Women have come a long way in gaining equality with men. Now it’s time to once again aim for their achievement—in this case, lowering the incidence and poor outcomes of heart disease.