5 Pillars of Women’s Heart Health
Managing your cardiovascular risk factors is easier than you think
When you think about cardiovascular disease, you might think it’s just a guy thing. But according to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death among women—and it kills more wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts and girlfriends than all types of cancer combined.
While it’s true there are some risk factors for cardiovascular disease you can’t control—such as age and family history—a healthy lifestyle can go a long way toward reducing the chances you will develop a serious heart condition.
If you want to improve your cardiovascular health, talking with your doctor is an important first step. By working closely with your doctor and other members of your health care team, you can identify your risk factors, establish specific strategies to boost your well-being, set personalized goals and track your progress over time.
For a head start, try focusing on these five pillars of women’s heart health:
1. Nutrition
Whether you want to try the Mediterranean diet, manage your weight or start swapping processed foods with fresh produce, your doctor can provide the education and motivation you need to get started with a heart-healthy diet.
2. Managing chronic conditions
Knowing your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar numbers is key to keeping tabs on your health. But if you’ve already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes or another chronic condition, it’s not too late to make beneficial lifestyle changes. Following your medication regimen, getting regular follow-up care, and following your doctor’s recommendations for diet and activity can reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and other complications.
3. Exercise
From walking to gardening, finding an enjoyable way to get moving can help you improve your cardiovascular fitness while building strength. As an added bonus, exercise can help manage stress, contributing to improved physical and mental health.
4. Understanding your risk factors
Women may be at higher risk of experiencing a cardiac event during certain stages of life, including during pregnancy and menopause. Family history and other health conditions may also affect your cardiac health. Getting an annual physical exam and staying in close contact with your doctor can help you stay aware of your changing cardiac risk factors and take steps to manage them.
5. Overall well-being
Many women inadvertently neglect themselves when juggling the demands of managing family, work and friends. Carving out time for a self-care routine with calming practices you enjoy—such as meditation, breath work, yoga or other relaxing activities—can help improve your mental health and overall well-being. Getting appropriate sleep is also key and can boost your mind and mood and can help prevent health problems. For optimum health and function, the average adult should get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
By focusing on these five pillars of women’s heart health, you can manage your cardiovascular health through each age and stage of life.
The Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute Women's Heart Health Clinic is located in Torrance at 2841 Lomita Blvd., Suite 100. They can be reached at 310-257-0508
