Heart disease a major cause of female deaths – but many don’t care
Although heart disease is a leading cause of death in women, new research shows that the large majority of young females worry very little or not at all about the problem.
“Although it is the leading cause of death in women (in the US), more than 75 percent of young women worry little or not at all about getting heart disease,” notes the American Heath Association in response to recent heart health research by Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital.
The research showed that while most young adult women had taken some action to preserve their health, such as seeing a doctor, exercising or trying to reduce stress, there was a general lack of awareness of the severity of heart disease.
This follows a study by the University of North Carolina which shows that heart attacks are no longer a disease of “old men” but are increasingly occurring in younger people, especially women.
The latest research found that only 10 percent of 331 women surveyed between 15 and 24-years-old identified heart disease as a leading cause of death in women. Almost 40 percent worried a little and 37.2 percent did not worry at all about heart disease. Just over 42 percent worried most about depression or anxiety.
Researcher Courtney Brown said: “…While (women’s) short-term risk of heart disease is very low, their lifetime risk is often quite high, and taking care of their health now is important for reducing their lifetime risk of heart disease”.
Nutritional expert Vanessa Ascencao said up to 80 percent of heart disease deaths may be preventable. In South Africa, studies show that 68 percent of women and 31 percent of men are overweight or obese, contributing to heart disease, strokes and diabetes which among the country’s biggest killers.
“Women should prioritise their own health by pursuing a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet and taking the right supplements such as Bio-Berberine which helps control blood sugar levels which in turn helps avoid diabetes and plays a major role in heart disease.”
Ascencao suggests the following additional steps for improved heart health:
- Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetable, fish or omega 3 fatty acids.
- Exercise for between 30 and 40 minutes a day.
- Maintain a healthy weight and limit sugary drinks, processed food, trans fats and sodium.
- Don’t smoke. Drink alcohol in moderation.
- Try high-quality supplements for heart health such as Bio-Berberine to help balance blood sugar levels, Purest Omega 3, which may help lower heart disease risk and Biomax PQQ with CoQ10 which is great for cognitive and heart health.