Heart Disease: Not Just for Men

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Heart Disease: Not Just for Men

Health Message from Wagoner Community Hospital

(February 11, 2008) Valentine's Day isn't the only reason to associate the month of February with hearts. February is also American Heart Month. This year, the American Heart Association is focusing on the theme, "Go Red for Women" to increase awareness of heart disease among women.

"Each year, more than 500,000 U.S. women die of heart disease," Mazen Al-Hamwy, M.D., cardiologist at Wagoner Community Hospital said. "This translates to about one death every minute. During their younger years - before menopause - the risk of heart disease for women is less than the risk for male counterparts of the same age. But, around the age of 55, things even out and both sexes are at equal risk. It's thought that the loss of natural estrogen as women age contributes to the higher risks seen in women after menopause."

For years, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women was seen as a way to reduce the risks of both heart disease and osteoporosis (bone thinning disease). However, recent studies failed to prove significant benefit and have shown that some forms of HTR can actually be harmful. This has caused most health experts to stop recommending hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women as a protector against heart disease.

"For women and men alike, Oklahoma is one of the worst states when it comes to deaths by cardiovascular diseases," Dr. Al-Hamwy said. "Across the country, cardiovascular diseases are an underlying cause for more than one third of all deaths in the United States. Cardiovascular diseases include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, heart failure and congenital cardiovascular defects. However, many of the risk factors - obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, physical inactivity, smoking and high blood pressure - can be eliminated or treated."

So, what can women - or men - do to protect themselves? The American Heart Association calls this the ABCs of Preventing Heart Disease, Stroke and Heart Attack: Avoid Tobacco, Be More Active and Choose Good Nutrition:

Stop Smoking - If you smoke, commit to quit.

Reduce blood cholesterol - Reduce your intake of saturated and trans fats and get moving. If diet and exercise alone aren't sufficient, follow your doctor's recommendations regarding medications in order to achieve numbers within the recommended ranges:

Total cholesterol: less than 200 mg/dL

LDL "bad" cholesterol: 100 - 160 mg/dL (Follow your doctor's recommendations based on risk factors and any existing heart disease or diabetes.)

HDL "good" cholesterol - at least 40 mg/dL for men and 50 mg/dL for women

Triglycerides - less than 150 mg/dL

Keep blood pressure below 120 / 80 mg/Hg. (High blood pressure is the leading cause for stroke - our nation's number 3 killer.)

Be physically active every day - aim for 30 - 60 minutes of physical activity most or all days.

Maintain a healthy weight - obesity increases your risks for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin resistance (a precursor to diabetes), which are all known risk factors for heart disease. Use your body mass index (BMI) to determine if your weight is at a healthy level.

Manage diabetes - people with diabetes have two to four times the risks of developing cardiovascular diseases. Work with your health professional to monitor and control blood sugar levels within recommended guidelines.

Reduce stress - too much stress can trigger over-eating or smoking, which increase heart disease risks. Learn techniques to manage stress in your daily life.

Limit alcohol consumption - some studies indicate that moderate alcohol consumption (up to one drink a day for women and up to two a day for men) is good for you. But, too much alcohol raises blood pressure, causes heart failure and leads to stroke. It can contribute to high triglycerides, irregular heartbeats and can even increase the risks for certain types of cancer.

"A new study shows that the same vitamin D deficiency that can result in weak bones is also associated with an increased risk of heart disease," Dr. Al-Hamwy concluded. "The risk associated with vitamin D deficiency was particularly evident among individuals with high blood pressure. Luckily for Oklahoma, low levels of vitamin D are most prevalent in areas of the country without much sunshine. Since vitamin D is also vital in the prevention of osteoporosis, women who strictly limit their sun exposure and eat few vitamin D enriched foods may want to talk to their health provider about supplementing their intake."