HEART HEALTH
6 Reasons Women Should Care About Their Heart Health Females experience unique causes, symptoms, and outcomes. Here’s what to know. ardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year, according to the World Health Organisation. Heart disease also strikes men, but women are more likely to have unique symptoms, be misdiagnosed, have worse outcomes, and die from their disease. What’s more, certain conditions appear to increase heart disease risk in women. These include preeclampsia and eclampsia, gestational diabetes, migraine headaches with aura, early onset menopause, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. 'HVSLWH WZR GHFDGHV RI QDWLRQDO HƵRUWV LQ WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV WR increase awareness that heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for women, awareness has decreased — from 65% in 2009 to 44% in 2019. And awareness is the lowest among young women where prevention could make the greatest impact. A Women’s Heart Alliance survey of more than 1,000 women 25 to 60 years old, found that 45% didn’t know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Dr. Holly Andersen, director of education and outreach at the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center, and Dr. Jennifer Haythe, a cardiologist specialising in cardiac health during pregnancy at the Center for Advanced Cardiac Care at NewYork-Presbyterian/
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Cardiovascular diseases the leading cause of death globally
Columbia University Irving Medical Center, say women need to educate themselves to better protect their heart health. Here’s why: Women are less inclined to call 911 when they think they may be experiencing heart attack symptoms. Cardiovascular disease complicates up to 4% of pregnancies, and that number has been increasing. Preeclampsia is an independent predictor of developing cardiovascular disease later in life. Women who have had preeclampsia should be mindful of having their blood pressure, fasting glucose, and cholesterol checked annually. Women are less likely to be referred for cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack. :RPHQšV KHDUW DWWDFN V\PSWRPV DUH RIWHQ GLƵHUHQW IURP men’s. Women may experience shortness of breath, nausea, palpitations, jaw discomfort, or overwhelming fatigue, according to the American Heart Association. Women are less likely to receive bystander CPR in public than men (45% for men versus 39% for women). Learning handsonly CPR can help save a life. Visit HandsOnly.org to learn more. After the age of 65, hypertension (high blood pressure) is more common in women. Go for an annual physical and have your doctor check your blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. The American College of Cardiology recommends a blood pressure target of 120/80 or lower. If you had COVID, it’s even more important to get your heart checked: a large study published in Nature Medicine in February found that having COVID before January 2021 VLJQLƶFDQWO\ LQFUHDVHG \RXU FDUGLRYDVFXODU GLVHDVH ULVN DQG burden at one year. This article was adapted from NewYork-Presbyterian’s Health Matters.NewYork-Presbyterian’s Global Patient Services Program starts you on your journey to the very best medical care that you or your loved one deserve. For more information, contact: Simone Barton, CEO, Bermuda Heart Foundation & CORE Heart Health Center. Tel: 232-2673. E-mail: coreadmin@bdaheart.bm. NY Main 2ƸFH (PDLO JOREDOVHUYLFHV#Q\S RUJ
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Women are less likely to be referred for cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack After the age of 65, hypertension is more common in women than men
Health & Beauty Summer 2022
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