Neha Rastogi, Founder and COO-Agatsa, says that of all the major non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular problems are emerging as one of the most serious and silent conditions. While heart diseases can affect anyone irrespective of their age, what is not known much is that they are the number one killer in women, causing approximately 1 in 3 deaths every year. Although women are likely to develop more complications, the symptoms are often ignored in them. This is because heart disease is predominantly thought of as affecting men and when it comes to women’s health, the focus is more on cancers, reproductive health, and deficiencies. What adds to this is that the warning signs in women are also different and they do not exhibit the characteristic chest pain, delaying timely diagnosis and management.
Some factors put women more at risk for heart diseases including the following.
Women with diabetes may not experience pain normally, since the condition affects nerve function. This means they may not understand the symptoms they are facing.
Stress is one of the major causes of heart diseases in women. Conditions like depression make it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow recommended treatment.
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A sedentary lifestyle including lack of physical activity can also hamper heart health.
Menopause leads to a reduction in the production of hormone estrogen, a reason why heart diseases in women manifest later in life. This hormone provides a protective effect against heart conditions.
It is imperative for women to watch out for symptoms such as discomfort in the neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdomen; shortness of breath; pain in one or both arms; nausea; sweating; dizziness; unusual fatigue; and indigestion.
Dr Vanita Arora, Director and Head of Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab and Arrhythmia Services, Max Hospital, New Delhi, told a website that: "Women do not consult a doctor when they have a heart problem. Tachycardia is not treated in women and usually passed off as anxiety. It is important to note that electrical disorders of the heart are highly common in women. They often experience an increase in heart rate called palpitation (a condition compared with the galloping of a horse). An increase in the heart rate of more than 130 or 140 is dangerous and requires immediate attention."
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There is a need to raise awareness on the importance of routine preventive heart health check-ups in women apart from following a healthy lifestyle. They must also be aware of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and sedentary lifestyle, metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, PCOS, family history of the condition, and habits like smoking and drinking. They should undergo include ECG, Stress Echo, TMT, Echo, and CT and Angio on a case-to-case basis.
Nowadays there are pocket-sized ECG machines available which can help in preventive screening at home. All women who are at high risk must carry these in their purse for immediate intervention if any unusual symptoms are noticed.
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There is a need to acknowledge, understand, and create awareness of women’s health and the conditions that affect them. Only a timely diagnosis and treatment can help prevent future complications in them.
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