International Women’s Day is March 8, which is an ideal time to discuss heart health for female patients. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, causing 1 in 5 deaths for women in 2017, according to the CDC. Knowing risk factors and ways to improve cardiovascular health is crucial to beating heart disease. The cardiologists at Buckeye Heart & Vascular Institute in Dayton, OH offer tips to female patients to keep their hearts healthy.
Eat healthily
Conditions such as high blood pressure and obesity can lead to heart disease, so preventing these health problems is crucial to lowering your risk of heart disease. Making good eating choices can help accomplish this. Healthy eating includes a combination of food groups to ensure you receive all the nutrients your body needs to stay strong. Saturated and trans fats, sodium, and added sugar can contribute to these chronic conditions, so it is best to avoid them or enjoy them in moderation. Processed foods, fried foods, and soft drinks are examples of foods that could be unhealthy. You can discuss heart-healthy nutrition in further detail with your doctor.
Stay active
The heart is a muscle and must be worked to make it stronger, like any other muscle in the body. Inactivity can leave patients at a higher risk of heart disease, so it is important to exercise regularly to improve heart health. Doctors recommend exercising for 30 minutes five times per week. Exercise can strengthen your heart as well as lower the risk of high blood pressure and obesity, which are risk factors for heart disease. Walking, running, swimming, and cycling are good examples of exercise that can work out your heart.
Be aware of risk factors
Not all risk factors are in a patient’s control. If you have an immediate family member with heart disease, such as a parent or sibling, you may have a higher risk of also getting heart disease. Age is another risk factor for heart disease, especially for women with menopause. Estrogen can protect the heart from disease, but as estrogen levels decrease when women go through menopause, their heart health can be at risk.
Women can develop several conditions during pregnancy, including gestational high blood pressure or diabetes, which can go away after birth but still increase chances of heart disease later in life. Your doctor can discuss individualized risk factors during a consultation.
Talk to cardiologists in Dayton, OH
The cardiologists of Buckeye Heart & Vascular Institute offer comprehensive cardiovascular care to patients in Dayton, OH. Our practice diagnoses and provides long-term treatment to patients with a variety of health conditions. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 937.203.8602.