February is Heart Month
GLOBALLY, more women than men die of heart disease each year.
February is Heart Month, and the Heart Foundation of Jamaica is celebrating its 45th anniversary and launching the month under the theme, ‘Obesity – A weighty matter’.
During the month the Heart Foundation places the spotlight on heart disease, its risk factors and prevention, by encouraging members of the public to diet, exercise and do health monitoring.
For women, it is important to know the risk factors associated with the condition. These include:
1. Diabetes, which increases the risk of heart disease significantly more in women than in men.
2. Metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of fat around your abdomen, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high triglycerides.
3. Mental stress and depression that affect women’s hearts more than men’s.
4. Smoking, which poses a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than in men.
5. No physical activity, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
6. Low levels of oestrogen after menopause that pose a significant risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease in the smaller blood vessels (microvascular disease).
If any of the above applies to you or if you feel you may be at risk for heart disease, remember that women don’t show the same symptoms as men and may get to the hospital only after they have suffered heart damage. Don’t hesitate to have your heart checked.
