World Heart Day: Heart disease is not gender biased

Chandigarh, September 29, 2014: The heart disease is not gender biased and affects men and women equally. Women are at higher risk of suffering from heart problem and not knowing about it as they seldom feel chest pain, said Dr Rajesh Vijayvergiya, cardiologist at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh while interacting with females and elderly citizens at a awareness program organised on World Heart Day by Joshi Foundation here today in sector 15 Chandigarh.

Giving information that rings bells for the women, the leading cardiologist said that heart diseases are a leading cause of death in women, though the disease develops in some 10 years later in women compared to their male counterparts. Also the women having excess fat around their belly were more vulnerable to heart problem.

“Earlier it was thought that in the pre-menopausal females the hormone estrogen was enough to shield women from the heart ailments, However now even the protective hormone estrogen can no longer guard those who have metabolic syndrome (weight around the abdomen), are diabetic and suffer from hypertension,” he revealed.

He added that in women the pain in back or jaw is also an indicator to start being concerned about your heart’s health and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. Diagnostic dilemma often leads most of the women to reach the hospital with heart attack in severe conditions. Unlike men, they seldom get chest pain. Risk factors like diabetes and abnormal cholesterol are more strongly associated with heart disease in women than in men.

Doctor pointed out that juggling with domestic work and professional responsibilities women felt hassled. But the way this situation is dealt with affects the heart. "We studied those women who had suffered a heart attack and their emotional wellbeing and those who had not had a heart problem. It was found that those who had not suffered a heart attack were equally stressed as those who had. However the ones who had a heart attack were unable to have effective problem solving skills when confronted with a difficult situation,” he explained.

Dr Vijayvergiya laid emphasis on positive attitude and self-esteem are good defences against the heart problems in view of outcomes of study conducted to find effect of depression on heart. It was found that during depression there is hyperactivity of some hormones in the body which are released in excess causing high blood pressure and increase in cholesterol. Psycho-social factors play an important role in the onset and progression of heart diseases. "There is enough medical literature to establish their significant contribution. Depression, anxiety and cognitive disorders are few of the psychiatric problems which occur frequently as complications or association with cardiovascular diseases," said Dr Rajesh Vijayvergiya, a cardiologist at PGI.

Social factors like substantial social support by community plays an important role in prevention of future cardiac events in healthy individuals or patients with pre-existing heart diseases. "There is about 2 to 3 fold increase in future cardiac events in healthy population with adverse social factors. A low level of perceived emotional support results in even a greater risk for future cardiac events," said Dr Vijayvergiya.

Doctors have labeled premature heart disease for men less than 55 years and women less than 65 years. He explained that heart disease in pre-menopausal women, who are less than 45 years, is a premature form of coronary heart disease. “We come across 3-4 such women every month in the cardiology department," said Dr Vijayvergiya.

Highlights: Keep that beating heart healthy:

Running after the kids, managing domestic chores, finding no time to communicate and share their concerns with their partners, results in women not only getting burdened emotionally but also stressing their heart. Women should learn to cope with stress

A positive attitude and self-esteem are good defences against the problem.

Do 30 minutes of exercise five times a week

Get annual medical tests conducted Maintain cholesterol, blood pressure, lipid profile

=====================

Warning signs of heart attacks

Chest discomfort, including squeezing or pain in the centre of the chest.

Discomfort and/or pain spreading to other areas of the upper body such as one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. This type of presentation is more common in women.

Acute onset shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort

Other signs:- unexplained weakness or fatigue, anxiety or unusual nervousness, indigestion or gas-like pain, breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, vomiting, light-headedness and collapse

ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN FOR HEALTHY HEART

Increase uptake of vegetables, fruits, cereals,

Treatment of abnormal lipids by exercise, drugs. Do 30-minutes of exercise at least five times a week.

Stop smoking

Control of blood pressure if high by diet, appropriate body weight maintenance and medications

Control of blood sugar in diabetics with diet, appropriate body weight maintenance and medications

Control of body weight by regular exercise, increase low fat and low carbohydrate diet

Psychological stress to be modified by yoga, exercise, changing the work place environment, and psychological counselling

Compliance to the drugs prescribed by the physician for heart disease

-----------------------------

Readers may send their news/views/feedback to us:

[email protected]