Prioritizing women’s heart health means educating them about the risks of heart disease and the signs and steps to prevent problems before they arise. Enhancing cardiovascular health for both women and men involves similar modifications. From simple lifestyle changes to major adjustments, here are some actionable ways women can protect their heart health:
1. Know Your Risks
Take time to understand what is involved in women’s heart health and undergo a comprehensive health evaluation by your cardiologist for insights into your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Your provider will check your glucose, triglyceride level, and body mass index. They will look at your medical history and ask about your family history to establish if anyone in your lineage has lived with heart disease.
If your cholesterol and blood pressure levels are above average, your healthcare provider may offer medication to stabilize them. The specialist may also recommend lifestyle changes to prevent these issues from escalating.
2. Enhance Your Diet
Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to encourage heart health. Many fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C and beta-carotene, which are good antioxidants that prevent plaque buildup in the arteries. Whole grains and other foods rich in soluble fiber also lower the risk of LDL cholesterol plaguing the arteries over time, reducing your risk of heart disease.
- Lowering sugar intake is also part of healthy eating to protect heart health.
- Foods and drinks with added sugar contain many calories with minimal nutritional value, which causes rapid weight gain.
- An unhealthy weight causes hypertension and high cholesterol.
- When you consume excessive added sugar, your body may not convert all of it to energy, and it will store the sugar as fat.
- This fat accumulation causes obesity, increasing your risk of heart disease.
3. Stop Smoking
Women who smoke are at a higher risk of blood clots, stroke, and other heart problems than those who don’t. Nicotine, which is a main cigarette component, raises your heart rate and causes a blood pressure spike. Carbon monoxide, the chemical you inhale when smoking, compromises oxygen transportation to your heart and brain.
- If you are struggling to break smoking habits, opt for healthier nicotine replacements like nicotine chewing gum and nicotine patches.
- These products continue to meet your cravings without the effects of the toxic chemicals contained in cigarettes.
- In extreme cases, your healthcare provider can recommend Bupropion or Varenicline, approved medicines that interfere with the brain receptors connected to smoking addiction to ease your craving.
4. Work Out Regularly
A regular workout routine may help reduce the risk of diabetes, lower blood pressure, and promote healthy body weight. Exercising enhances your muscle’s ability to draw oxygen from the blood, so the heart does not need to overwork to verify blood reaches all muscles. Start with small adjustments like walking around the neighborhood and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Gradually shift to gym sessions, bike rides, fitness classes, and more to help encourage your heart health.
Protect Women’s Heart Health With Cardiac Care
Besides the above lifestyle changes, regular checkups by reputable cardiologists are key to protecting women’s heart health. The checkups allow your provider to identify early signs of heart disease and provide you with preventative care. They may also recommend lifestyle changes and start necessary treatments. Schedule an appointment with your cardiologist today.
