Heart Disease and Emotions Attacks: What Women Demand to Know -- familydoctor.o

Women are at risk championing heart disease and heart attacks, just like men. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women over 65. American women are 4 to 6 times more likely to die because of problems with heart than because of breast cancer. Heart disease murder also more women after their 60s than all cancers combined. Women develop heart problems later in life than men -- typically 7 or 8 years later. However, close to approximate age of 65, a woman's chance is nearly the same as a man's.

Women are less likely to pull through heart assails than men. No one knows why. It may be that women don't look for or receive necessary treatment as soon as men do. Or it may be since women's smaller hearts and blood vessels are more simply damaged.

Doctors are working on to find answers to these questions. There's no question, however, that it is vital to prevent problems with heart before they start. Representing both men and women, the biggest factors that influence the development of heart diseases are smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, family history and age. Take a moment to gaze at your lifestyle, family history and your general health.

With this information, you and your family doctor can assess your risk and make a plan to avoid potential problems. Although you can't discharge much about your kinsfolk history or your age, you can make lifestyle changes to shun many of the other risk piece.

Don' t smoke. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease in women. Half of the heart attacks in women under 50 are related to smoking. If you drop smoking, you can drop your risk of heart attack by 1 third within 2 years. Women who smoke and use birth control pills increase their risk even more. There are a variety of products to benefit you in your refusal to sigarettes. You may want to try using nicotine skin patches or nicotine gum. There are also prescription medicines to hand that can help you to quit smoking. Ask your physician the best way for you to quit smoking.

Breathing smoke from someone else's cigarettes is further malicious for your heart and lungs. If you live with someone who smokes, encourage him or her to quit.

Control your blood pressure. Treating high blood pressure can lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. Losing weight, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet are all ways to help bridle high blood pressure.

Reducing the amount of salt you consume will also help. If this doesn't decrease your blood pressure, your doctor may recommend medicine for you to take. Control your cholesterol level. If you don't know your level, inquire your doctor to check it. Diet is a key part of lowering high cholesterol levels. However, some people have to take remedy in addition to diet and exercise. Maintain a healthy weight.

Extra weight puts strain on your heart and arteries. Exercise and a low-fat diet can help you solve this problem. Being overweight means you have a higher peril for indefinite other health problems, especially diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. If you're overweight, chatter to your doctor about a safe and effective course of action to lose weight.

Exercise regularly. Remember, your heart is a muscle. It needs regular exercise to be in shape. Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming, jogging or biking, presents your heart the best workout. You can also exercise appropriateness equipment such as exercise bicycles, treadmills and ski machines when exercising indoors.

Finding a companion for exercising may make it easier and safer for you to exercise often. You should exercise at least 30 to 60 minutes, 4 to 6 times a week. Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program.

Eat a low-fat diet. Keep fat calories to 30% or less of the complete calories you eat during a day and avoid saturated fat (in meats and coconut oil). Information is available to help you make healthy choices. For example, food labels list nutrition information, including fat calories, various cookbooks have heart-healthy recipes, and some restaurants attend to low-fat dishes.

Take care of diabetes. Whether you have diabetes, universal exercise, weight control, a low-fat nutrition and regular visits to your doctor are important. If you have to take medicine for diabetes, be certain to accept it exactly as your doctor tells you to.

Be aware of chest pain. Be sure to conjunction your doctor immediately if you suffer from malaise in your chest, shoulder, neck or jaw. Also inform your doctor if you experience shortness of breath or nausea that comes on quickly. If you are having a heart attack, the faster you can get to the hospital, the less your heart will be damaged. Every second counts.

And of course know your family history. Having a father or brother with heart disease before they are 55, or a mother or sister with heart disease beforehand age 65, are factors that contribute to heart disease. Inform your doctor about your family history.