HEALTHY REASONING: Women And Heart Disease

By Allan Jones
Pride Health Columnist

In January this year, I went to a popular West Indian restaurant in Brampton, only to be told that my friend, in her 50s, who works at the restaurant, had a heart attack and needed a 4 ½ hour bypass surgery procedure to save her life. When I saw her a few weeks later, she said “Allan, I was dead and came back alive…thank God”, and she proudly displayed her scars. Recently, one of my Facebook friends, another woman, sent me a message, to say she just received a new heart via a transplant. Last week I interviewed another woman, on my weekly radio show, about the heart transplant she had four years ago. All three women mentioned are Black women.

Heart disease and stroke is a leading cause of death for women in Canada. Unfortunately, Canada does not collect health data based on race, but as an observer of health situations I hear of an increasing number of Black women presenting with heart problems.

It is documented that men and women may not experience warning signs of a heart attack in the same manner. Men and women may experience pain in the chest radiating into the left arm, throat and jaw, but women may describe the pain differently. However, the most common symptom in men and women is still chest pain.

For pregnant women, over the nine months of gestation, she may develop certain conditions that increase their risk of heart disease; Pre-eclampsia, a condition that usually starts after the 20^th week of pregnancy, which sees increased blood pressure and protein in the mother’s urine. Risk factors for this condition are high blood pressure and obesity prior to becoming pregnant; being younger than 20 or older than 40; pregnant with more than one baby; diabetes; kidney disease; rheumatoid arthritis; lupus or scleroderma. Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of the mother and baby developing diabetes later in life, and diabetes is a risk factor for heart disease.

Prior to menopause, women tend to be safeguarded from heart disease due to the protective effect of estrogen. However, pre-menopausal women with diabetes, have a similar risk to men the same age because diabetes cancels out the protective effect of estrogen. When a woman reaches menopause, her overall risk of heart disease may increase due to the reduction in the hormones estrogen and progesterone produced by the body. If you are considering hormone replacement therapy discuss all health risks with your healthcare provider.

Natural estrogen keeps cholesterol levels in a healthy range. After menopause, as natural estrogen levels drop, more and more women develop high cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease. Talk to your doctor about how often you should have your cholesterol checked, and what is a safe level.

Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body. Research suggests that high triglycerides may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke for women. Talk to your doctor about your risk.

A woman can adjust her lifestyle to minimize her risk for heart disease. The adjustment includes the following: Reduce or eliminate stress; If you are a smoker, stop smoking; Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight; Have a waist size, measured at the belly button, of 35 inches (89 cm) or less; Becoming physically active (walking, running or in a gym setting) for at least 30 minutes per day; Eating a healthy diet low in fat, high in fibre, and include food from each group as listed in Canada’s Food Guide; Use the medications as prescribed by your doctor, for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or any other condition.

Every seven minutes in Canada, someone dies from heart disease or stroke (Stats Canada)….heart disease is a real problem with women and men…let us take steps to minimize the danger…the health of your heart is in your hands.

Allan Jones is a Health Promoter and Broadcaster. He can be heard on “Allan Bucka Jones LIVE”, Sundays from 3 to 5pm on CHRY 105.5 FM, www.chry.fm , Rogers Digital Cable 945, Bell Fibe 973 or mobile app TuneIn Radio. You can contact Allan Jones at ajones@jjmedical.ca.