'Silent killer' disease that poses greater risk to women than breast cancer
A recent study found that the illness most women fear above all others is breast cancer.
Whilst this deadly strain is certainly a threat - affecting 13 per cent of women receiving this diagnosis during their life - doctors say there's an altogether more dangerous condition, that supposedly wipes out more ladies than all cancer variations put together.
We are, of course, referring to heart disease.
According to experts who spoke to Eating Well, cardiovascular ailments also claim considerably more male and female lives across the globe than both cancer and day-to-day accidents combined.
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Despite this, in Dr Sandra Tsai's view, heart disease is predominantly viewed by society as a 'man's' condition. Her assertion was supported by the study, which found that only 44 per cent of women interviewed perceive cardiovascular problems as even a partial threat.
Apparently, it's not patients who take this perilous view.
Only 42 per cent of cardiologists assessed as part of the scientific investigation claimed they felt well prepared to ascertain the risk of heart disease impacting a female patient. An even more concerning 22 per cent of primary care doctors agreed.
According to Dr Anais Hausvater, however, this may in part be due to a lack of awareness of how different heart disease, specifically a heart attack, can present itself in men and women.
The cardiologist explained that, in cases affecting the latter, a heart attack sometimes 'does not feel exactly like a pain' for women, but 'a pinch or a heaviness or a soreness' in the chest.
Additionally, whilst chest pain is usually the prevailing symptom of a cardiac arrest in men, in women, several symptoms can be experienced at once.
These may include shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and discomfort in the arm, neck or jaw.
This wide range of indicators may be why so many women fail to receive immediate medical attention or treatment for cardiovascular conditions, with many putting these down to other, less serious ailments, like heartburn.
In both men and women, factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and lifestyle are common contributors to an increased risk of suffering from heart diseases.
For females, however, pregnancy can also be a factor, with the likes of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and preterm birth all being linked to a slightly increased likelihood of being diagnosed with cardiovascular ailments at a later stage in life.
Such is also the case with menopause, with the decline in oestrogen that defines this period causing heightened cholesterol, obesity, insulin resistance and blood pressure.
There's also the fact that autoimmune disorders - examples including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, both of which trigger a buildup of plaque in arteries, causing heart problems - are more likely to affect women than men.
"I wish more women knew that the vast majority of heart disease is preventable and treatable," Hauvaster went on to confess.
Thankfully, she provided a list of the best ways women specifically can ward off heart disease:
- Plant-heavy diet - by boosting your intake of vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and cutting down on ultra-processed meals, you're more likely to maintain healthier levels of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
- Move more - aim for a minimum of 150 minutes of medium-high intensity exercise each week, and if you're going through the menopause, take up strength training.
- Prioritise sleep - at least seven hours of sleep is vital for a healthy heart, with too much or too little being linked to numerous ailments, including diabetes.
- Manage stress - consider taking up meditation, therapy, deep breathing, or exercise.
- Quit smoking - your risk of heart disease plummets once you pack in smoking.
Topics: Health, Life, Real Life, True Life, Cancer, Women's Health
Rhianna Benson