With September being National Heart Awareness Month, it’s an appropriate time to improve women’s awareness of CVD, which in so many cases are preventable.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation in SA says that one in four women will have some form of heart condition before the age of 60 and that once they reach menopause the risk of heart disease increases three times.
‘It’s time for us to change the perception around heart disease,’ says Dr Bobby Ramasia, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund.
‘The majority of CVDs are preventable so we need to make everyone, but especially women, more aware of the risks, the symptoms and how to take care of their heart.”
Typical heart attack symptoms in women tend not to be the classic tightness, discomfort or chest pain instead there are a wide range of sensations which could include an uneasy feeling in the chest, abdominal pain, a fluttering heartbeat, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and swollen feet.
Because the symptoms differ they can be easily missed or put down to another illness plus women often wait longer to go to hospital when having a heart attack – which means they are at a higher risk of dying, or being disabled, as a result of a heart attack than men.
Preventing and managing CVDs is vital and this means as well as educating health professionals on what to look out for and treatment.
We also need women to realise the severity of heart disease and that it is one of their biggest health threats. Now is the time to take action.
Get active – For a healthy heart, aim for at least 2 ½ hours of moderate physical activity each week.
Control cholesterol – We all have cholesterol and there are two types: the good kind (HLD) and the bad kind (LDL). This is where good cholesterol comes into play: HDL cleans out that bad cholesterol from the arteries
Eat better – Eating the right foods can help you control your weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.
Manage blood pressure by managing your stress – Keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range starts with eating a heart-healthy diet
Maintain a Healthy Weight – Overweight and obesity are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. 31.3% of adults in SA are obese. Higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
Reduce blood sugar – Diabetes is a risk factor. Heart disease death rates among adults with diabetes are 2 to 4 times higher. You can minimize the impact of diabetes on your body — and even prevent or delay its onset — by eating right, controlling your weight, exercising and taking medication prescribed by your doctor.
Stop smoking – It’s time to kick the habit. Going smoke-free can help reduce risk of heart disease and stroke as well as cancer and chronic lung disease.
Know your family history. A relative, especially a parent or sibling, with heart disease increases your risk of CVD.
Learn the warning signs of a heart attack and stroke – Some of the CVD related risk factors in adults in SA are: 18% of the population smoke tobacco, one in three SA adults(33.7%) have hypertension which can increase risk of heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease or stroke and 31.3% adults in South Africa are obese , 40% of women in South Africa are obese, and one in four girls and one in five in boys between the ages of 2 – 14 years are overweight
According to data from the World Health Organization, South Africa has the highest alcohol consumption rate in Africa and one of the highest in the world.
