Healthy Heart

Are women at less risk for heart disease?

False! Heart disease and stroke is the number one killer of Canadian women over the age of 55. Seven times as many women die from heart disease than breast cancer.

The number one sign of a heart attack is still chest pain but women will describe their pain differently. More often, the warning signs go unnoticed in women as their symptoms can include vague symptoms such as fatigue, nausea and vomiting and general weakness.

Heart disease takes many years to develop hence it is ideal to make healthy changes before symptoms occur. Risk factors like family history, menopause and ethnicity cannot be changed. However, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, high cholesterol, hypertension and obesity can all be improved. The first step towards a healthy heart includes an active lifestyle with a well balanced diet to maintain a healthy body weight. This does not mean you need to start training for the next marathon. The key is to make realistic permanent changes in both your diet and physical activity. You do not want to put yourself on a drastically reduced calorie diet since the minute you start eating more the lost pounds will reappear. Start by making healthier options. Decrease your intake of sugars, processed foods and empty calories. With regards to exercise, you want to initially increase your activity level compared to what you are doing now. This could mean a brisk 30 minute walk when currently you've been doing nothing. Also be patient with yourself since you are looking at correcting years of damage and it is going to take more than a few weeks to do so.
 

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