How to prevent a broken heart--women and heart disease.Everyone wants to have a healthy heart. Good lifestyle habits can help you to achieve this goal and keep your heart from breaking. Each of us needs to develop a personal action plan to reduce risk factors and prevent heart disease. What is heart disease? Heart disease is a general term for a number of cardiovascular diseases of the heart and blood vessels Blood vessels Tubular channels for blood transport, of which there are three principal types: arteries, capillaries, and veins. Only the larger arteries and veins in the body bear distinct names. . It's generally believed that men have a higher risk of heart attack. However, according to the National Institutes of Health, over 500,000 women die of heart disease each year, making it the number one cause of death for women in the United States. Who is at risk for heart disease? Risk factors are genetic traits or lifestyle habits that make a person more likely to develop a disease. Risk factors that cannot be controlled include heredity heredity, transmission from generation to generation through the process of reproduction in plants and animals of factors which cause the offspring to resemble their parents. That like begets like has been a maxim since ancient times. , age, and ethnicity. Risk factors that CAN be controlled are: * cigarette smoking--greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular illness and stroke * high blood pressure--called the "silent killer silent killer Silent lesion Medtalk Popular for a condition that may progress to very advanced stages before manifesting itself clinically ," is the main risk factor for congestive heart failure congestive heart failure, inability of the heart to expel sufficient blood to keep pace with the metabolic demands of the body. In the healthy individual the heart can tolerate large increases of workload for a considerable length of time. (CHF CHF In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Swiss Franc. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. ) * high blood cholesterol--contributes to blockage of arteries supplying blood to the heart * overweight--excess weight is likely to lead to heart problems * physical inactivity--increases the risk of heart disease * high stress level--has been linked to increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels * diabetes--diabetic women are more likely to have high blood pressure and cholesterol levels In addition, post-menopausal women may he more likely to develop heart disease because of the loss of the hormone estrogen. Plan for Prevention: Self-Care Strategies The more risk factors you may have, the more concerned you need to be about heart disease prevention. These lifestyle changes will help to protect against heart disease: * Stop Smoking--A year after quitting, your risk for heart disease will have decreased dramatically. Blue Cross of California providers offer smoking cessation smoking cessation Public health Temporary or permanent halting of habitual cigarette smoking; withdrawal therapies–eg, hypnosis, psychotherapy, group counseling, exposing smokers to Pts with terminal lung CA and nicotine chewing gum are often ineffective. programs and support groups, as well as the American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, n.pr established in 1913, this national volunteer-based health organization is committed to the elimination of cancer through prevention and treatment and to diminishing cancer suffering through advocacy, scholarship, research, and the American Lung Association The American Lung Association (ALA) is a non-profit organization that "fights lung disease in all its forms, with special emphasis on asthma, tobacco control and environmental health". . * Exercise--Regular physical activity controls weight, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels, helps to prevent diabetes and heart disease. * Eat Healthy and Wisely--A well-balanced diet is an important factor in the health of your heart and it can contribute to: --lower cholesterol levels --lower blood pressure --better weight management --reduced risk of cancer and other health problems Read food labels carefully and limit the amount of salt in your diet. Limit alcohol to no more than one drink per day. * Lose Weight (if you are overweight)--Getting down to your optimal weight will help lower your risk of heart disease, help to control diabetes, lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Define the goals for your plan for prevention and try to achieve them one at a time, one day at a time One Day at a Time is a long-running American situation comedy that portrayed a divorced mother, played by Bonnie Franklin, her two teenage daughters (Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli) and their building superintendent (Pat Harrington, Jr.). . Prevention is an important step in protecting our bodies from cardiovascular and other diseases. Remember, don't break your heart! Cherri Straus, MPH, submitted this article on behalf of WellPoint Health Networks. Some statistics were researched via the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association American Heart Association (AHA), n.pr a national voluntary health agency that has the goal of increasing public and medical awareness of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, and thereby reducing the number of associated deaths and disabilities. . |
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