Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women? Also, did you know that American women are four to six times more likely to die of heart disease than breast cancer?
Coronary heart disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become hardened and narrowed due to plaque formation inside the vessels walls. Plaque is the accumulation of fat, cholesterol and other substances. As plaque builds up, the blood flow to the heart is greatly reduced. Heart disease can lead to a heart attack which happens when an artery becomes completely blocked due to plaque.
Compared to men, many women before the age of menopause are partly protected from heart disease. However, as women age their risks rise. The reasons for this are not clear. One explanation may be the difference in fat distribution on men and women's bodies. Male sex hormones cause a higher amount of abdominal fat (apple shaped), and female hormones cause fat to be deposited predominately on thighs and hips (pear shaped). However, overweight women regardless of age with the “apple” fat distribution are at greater risk of developing heart disease. Numerous studies have indicated that abdominal obesity also increases the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes.
Another reason may be the differences in cholesterol composition between men and women. There are two components of cholesterol to be familiar with: high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is associated with positive effects, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is associated with negative effects.
As men go through puberty, their HDL levels decline causing their blood vessels to be exposed to higher levels of LDL. LDL cholesterol encourages fat to accumulate on the walls of arteries and can eventually clog them. Similarly, postmenopausal women's HDL levels decrease and LDL levels as a direct result of estrogen deficiency.
This change in blood lipids in women after menopause may be one reason why cardiovascular disease rates between men and women become similar around the age of 50.
Until recently, many postmenopausal women were prescribed hormone therapy to help prevent heart disease. Current research indicates hormone therapy increases the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer. Due to these recent scientific findings, the American Heart Association is advising women not to take postmenopausal hormone therapy to reduce their risk of developing heart disease.
Symptoms of heart attack in women present differently than in men. Research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks. Among the 515 women studied, the symptoms most commonly reported were unusual fatigue (70.6 percent), sleep disturbance (47.8 percent) and shortness of breath (42.1 percent). Surprisingly, fewer than 30 percent reported having chest pain prior to their heart attacks, and 43 percent reported no chest pain.
Heart disease is, in most cases, directly related to diet and lifestyle. This is an issue that both conventional and alternative medicine agrees on. Family history and genetics do play a role, but risk factors such as smoking, diet, exercise and stress can be modified to reduce one's risk.
Natural therapies such as fiber, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, CoQ10, garlic, hawthorn berry, magnesium and others can be utilized to help women prevent and treat heart disease. There are considerable amounts of scientific research demonstrating the effects of these natural therapies in lowering cholesterol, managing blood pressure, preventing clots and strokes, strengthening heart muscles and preventing oxidative damage to vessel walls, all of which are implicated in heart disease.
However, it is important to seek qualified professionals who are aware of dosages and side effects when using natural therapies.
Women need to become more aware of their risks associated with heart disease and begin their path to preventing this increasing problem. Dietary changes, exercise, stress management, smoking cessation and supplementation all yield beneficial preventative outcomes for women at risk.
Dr. Fey is a naturopathic doctor at The Center in Auburn. She can be reached at 704-0319.
Compared to men, many women before the age of menopause are partly protected from heart disease. However, as women age their risks rise. The reasons for this are not clear. One explanation may be the difference in fat distribution on men and women's bodies. Male sex hormones cause a higher amount of abdominal fat (apple shaped), and female hormones cause fat to be deposited predominately on thighs and hips (pear shaped). However, overweight women regardless of age with the “apple” fat distribution are at greater risk of developing heart disease. Numerous studies have indicated that abdominal obesity also increases the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes.
Another reason may be the differences in cholesterol composition between men and women. There are two components of cholesterol to be familiar with: high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is associated with positive effects, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is associated with negative effects.
As men go through puberty, their HDL levels decline causing their blood vessels to be exposed to higher levels of LDL. LDL cholesterol encourages fat to accumulate on the walls of arteries and can eventually clog them. Similarly, postmenopausal women's HDL levels decrease and LDL levels as a direct result of estrogen deficiency.
This change in blood lipids in women after menopause may be one reason why cardiovascular disease rates between men and women become similar around the age of 50.
Until recently, many postmenopausal women were prescribed hormone therapy to help prevent heart disease. Current research indicates hormone therapy increases the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer. Due to these recent scientific findings, the American Heart Association is advising women not to take postmenopausal hormone therapy to reduce their risk of developing heart disease.
Symptoms of heart attack in women present differently than in men. Research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks. Among the 515 women studied, the symptoms most commonly reported were unusual fatigue (70.6 percent), sleep disturbance (47.8 percent) and shortness of breath (42.1 percent). Surprisingly, fewer than 30 percent reported having chest pain prior to their heart attacks, and 43 percent reported no chest pain.
Heart disease is, in most cases, directly related to diet and lifestyle. This is an issue that both conventional and alternative medicine agrees on. Family history and genetics do play a role, but risk factors such as smoking, diet, exercise and stress can be modified to reduce one's risk.
Natural therapies such as fiber, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, CoQ10, garlic, hawthorn berry, magnesium and others can be utilized to help women prevent and treat heart disease. There are considerable amounts of scientific research demonstrating the effects of these natural therapies in lowering cholesterol, managing blood pressure, preventing clots and strokes, strengthening heart muscles and preventing oxidative damage to vessel walls, all of which are implicated in heart disease.
However, it is important to seek qualified professionals who are aware of dosages and side effects when using natural therapies.
Women need to become more aware of their risks associated with heart disease and begin their path to preventing this increasing problem. Dietary changes, exercise, stress management, smoking cessation and supplementation all yield beneficial preventative outcomes for women at risk.
Dr. Fey is a naturopathic doctor at The Center in Auburn. She can be reached at 704-0319.
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