Cardiologist reveals 6 vital mistakes women make
- Replies 2
Cardiovascular diseases can be difficult to deal with—that's why it’s so important for us to take care of our heart health, which means learning more about the risks associated with it.
To inform and educate about the dangers of cardiovascular disease, Dr Lucy McGrath-Cadell of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney, discussed everything we need to know about heart health!
Dr McGrath-Cadell said three in ten Australian women die from cardiovascular disease.
She also revealed that several lifestyle choices cause the biggest threats to women's heart health.
Here are six habits women should never do to prevent cardiovascular diseases, according to Dr McGrath-Cadell:
According to her, thirty per cent of Australian women were dying from cardiovascular disease.
‘You run, eat well, don't smoke, and maintain a healthy weight, so clearly, you have little to worry about when it comes to heart disease. Unfortunately, that's not entirely true,’ Dr McGrath-Cadell said.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, for example, is one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death in young people. It is a disease caused by mutated genes and leads to the heart muscle 'thickening'.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is another disease that is especially prevalent in women in their late 40s to early 50s.
She strongly advised women to be aware of their family medical history and conduct regular heart health checks, assess cholesterol levels, and check their blood pressure.
Those who smoke have higher chances of getting heart issues at a much younger age.
‘Quitting smoking or vaping is one of the best things you can do for your heart health,’ she said.
Dr McGrath-Cadell said that ‘the consumption of alcohol is likely to be detrimental at any amount’ for those with heart conditions like cardiac rhythm issues.
‘Most people are aware of the role a healthy diet and exercise plays in heart health, but one of the lesser-known lifestyle risk factors for heart disease is poor sleep,’ she said.
'Almost 60 per cent of adult Australians suffer from at least one chronic sleep symptom, so now is the time to work on your sleep hygiene.'
She said, 'Early detection is crucial in preventing other health consequences of heart disease. This is particularly true for women, whose symptoms may be overlooked or misunderstood.'
Symptoms of heart attacks in women vary from men, and one in three women will experience ‘typical’ symptoms of heart attack, she added.
Pain in the neck, jaw, shoulders, or upper back may be some warning signs for women. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, pain in one or both arms, and cold sweats.
Eating fresh food, lessening the intake of processed foods, and using unsaturated fats are some of the best ways to help reduce the risk of heart disease, according to Dr McGrath-Cadell.
It’s never too late to have a healthy mind, heart, and body! In a previous article, recent research suggested that the simple act of climbing stairs might be more effective in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. To learn more about this study, you can check it here.
Members, if you ever experience any symptoms, seek your GP immediately. Stay healthy!
What do you think about Dr McGrath-Cadell’s advice? Do you have other habits that we should take note of to be healthy? Share them in the comments below!
To inform and educate about the dangers of cardiovascular disease, Dr Lucy McGrath-Cadell of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney, discussed everything we need to know about heart health!
Dr McGrath-Cadell said three in ten Australian women die from cardiovascular disease.
She also revealed that several lifestyle choices cause the biggest threats to women's heart health.
Dr Lucy McGrath-Cadell said that heart conditions may be inherited genetically. Credit: Pexels
Here are six habits women should never do to prevent cardiovascular diseases, according to Dr McGrath-Cadell:
1. Not thinking it won’t happen to you
She pointed out that though some people may believe they're in the clear because they live a healthy lifestyle, heart conditions can be caused by genetics.According to her, thirty per cent of Australian women were dying from cardiovascular disease.
‘You run, eat well, don't smoke, and maintain a healthy weight, so clearly, you have little to worry about when it comes to heart disease. Unfortunately, that's not entirely true,’ Dr McGrath-Cadell said.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, for example, is one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death in young people. It is a disease caused by mutated genes and leads to the heart muscle 'thickening'.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is another disease that is especially prevalent in women in their late 40s to early 50s.
She strongly advised women to be aware of their family medical history and conduct regular heart health checks, assess cholesterol levels, and check their blood pressure.
2. Smoking or vaping
Dr McGrath-Cadell said smoking or vaping affects the vessels that supply blood to the heart, reducing the amount of oxygen in the blood. She said that this habit is strongly associated with heart disease.Those who smoke have higher chances of getting heart issues at a much younger age.
‘Quitting smoking or vaping is one of the best things you can do for your heart health,’ she said.
3. Excessive alcohol intake
Research shows that abstaining from alcohol intake works wonders for a person's heart.Dr McGrath-Cadell said that ‘the consumption of alcohol is likely to be detrimental at any amount’ for those with heart conditions like cardiac rhythm issues.
4. Lack of sleep
Those who get less than seven hours of sleep, or more than nine hours, are at greater risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, according to Dr McGrath-Cadell.‘Most people are aware of the role a healthy diet and exercise plays in heart health, but one of the lesser-known lifestyle risk factors for heart disease is poor sleep,’ she said.
'Almost 60 per cent of adult Australians suffer from at least one chronic sleep symptom, so now is the time to work on your sleep hygiene.'
5. Ignoring symptoms of heart disease
Dr McGrath-Cadell said that it is crucial to understand the symptoms of potential heart issues.She said, 'Early detection is crucial in preventing other health consequences of heart disease. This is particularly true for women, whose symptoms may be overlooked or misunderstood.'
Symptoms of heart attacks in women vary from men, and one in three women will experience ‘typical’ symptoms of heart attack, she added.
Pain in the neck, jaw, shoulders, or upper back may be some warning signs for women. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, pain in one or both arms, and cold sweats.
6. Poor diet and exercise habits
Dr McGrath-Cadell said it's ideal to be active every day and minimise long periods of sitting or lying down.Eating fresh food, lessening the intake of processed foods, and using unsaturated fats are some of the best ways to help reduce the risk of heart disease, according to Dr McGrath-Cadell.
It’s never too late to have a healthy mind, heart, and body! In a previous article, recent research suggested that the simple act of climbing stairs might be more effective in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. To learn more about this study, you can check it here.
Members, if you ever experience any symptoms, seek your GP immediately. Stay healthy!
What do you think about Dr McGrath-Cadell’s advice? Do you have other habits that we should take note of to be healthy? Share them in the comments below!
.png){kind=icon}
