Women, take care of your heart!

Recent news of heart attack in an apparently fit Indian actress has drawn attention to the issue of more and more women falling prey to heart disease globally and that too at a young age!

Factors contributing to this trend are changing lifestyles, aging population and hormonal changes. Women are now leading more sedentary lifestyles, consuming high-fat and high-sugar diets, consuming more alcohol and smoking more. On top of this women are leading more stressful lifestyles than ever before! All these factors actively and sometimes imperceptibly contribute to the development of heart disease.

Post menopausal increase in risk of heart attack due to loss of protective effect of estrogen is well known.
Also, after menopause, more fat tends to accumulate around abdomen and heart and this visceral fat is linked to heart disease risk

Women tend to experience more subtle symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, indigestion, heartburn, and back pain, which can be easily overlooked or attributed to other causes. A woman is more likely than a man to die within a year of having a heart attack.

Raising awareness about the risk factors, symptoms, and preventive measures can help women take proactive steps towards protecting their heart health.

It is about prioritizing your health and having healthy boundaries. With early detection, proactive lifestyle changes and proper management, heart disease can be prevented and women can live healthy and fulfilling lives
The bad news is that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women and the good news that it is one of the most preventable diseases.

The lifestyle measures that can make all the difference are:

• Focussing on the right diet and integrating exercise in your routine is very important but not enough. All other pillars are equally important.
• Prioritizing sleep, being aware of stress (and stressors)and doing some kind of activity/having a hobby that has a calming effect on you can make a huge difference
• Having healthy social connections, people who have your back and minimizing harmful substances are all very important components.

It is about prioritizing your health and having healthy boundaries. With early detection, proactive lifestyle changes and proper management, heart disease can be prevented and women can live healthy and fulfilling lives
So all the ladies and young girls, take care of your heart, it is where all your love and beauty lies.