How to prevent cardiovascular disease – the leading cause of death in women

cardiovascular diseases are leading cause of death among womeneven higher than any type of cancer. The mortality rate from a first heart attack is up to 20% higher in women than in men. In fact, heart disease, including stroke, takes lives one woman every 6 minutes in Europe and every 60 seconds in the US.

Despite the data, it is assumed that 80% of cases are preventable. That is why today, September 29, Women’s Heart experts share their Manifesto “A woman’s heart begins to act” through which they invite you to take action to reduce mortality.

“Are numbers that are impressive and that many people are unaware of today. However, they should know that they can be prevented and avoided by knowing the main specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women and following a number of healthy lifestyle habits. But this must be done day after day, from childhood and at all stages of a woman’s life.” says Leticia Fernandez-Friera, a cardiologist and advocate for the Women’s Heart Movement.

According to experts from the Women’s Heart Movement, the key to maintaining heart in good condition the female gender is included in six very specific areas: exercise, diet, habits, reviews, research and awareness campaigns.

“In all these areas a woman can intervene and take care of her heart and others actively involved in awareness campaigns and research,” says Fernandez-Frier, also founder of the ATRIA Clinic, a center specializing in the treatment of diseases affecting the heart.

These six aspects you should take into account to avoid cardiovascular diseases:

Lots of physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 30-40%. For this reason, WHO recommends doing at least 150–300 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity or 75–150 minutes of vigorous exercise weekly:

Proper nutrition helps prevent many risk factors for cardiovascular diseases: obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes… It should be based on consumption slow digesting sugars: fruits, vegetables, legumes, rice, pasta and cereals, preferably whole grains.

Recommended to take blue fish at least three times per week for being rich in omega-3s and increasing your intake of healthy fats through extra virgin olive oil, nuts, avocados, etc. The ideal is avoid saturated fatsprocessed and added sugars.

Know the condition of your heart

It is important to undergo periodic examinations. European prevention guidelines recommend that women check your heart between 45 and 50 years old and, depending on the results, establish individual monitoring.

From Corazón de Mujer they explain that by applying non-invasive technologies to specific imaging studies, cardiologists can get ahead of the disease and plan preventive measures necessary for every occasion. Knowledge of the condition of the heart and arteries allows us to identify the presence of atherosclerotic plaques and aneurysms even before the onset of symptoms, and for this it is enough to conduct 2D and 3D ultrasound of blood vessels.

Collaborate to raise awareness

Increasing public awareness of women’s cardiovascular health and ensuring the cooperation of as many people as possible is vital to reducing mortality rates.

Participation in information campaigns helps spread educational and preventive knowledge, which has a positive effect on women’s health. Resume the need for prevention any woman, be it mother, friend, daughter, grandmothersister, this is important. Each conscious person could have one less death.

Taking care of your heart

From a prevention perspective, the ideal scenario would be one in which people learn healthy lifestyle habits in school, primary care physicians become more involved in identifying risk factors, and the woman will identify her own associated symptoms to this disease.

Also create more women’s special units to detect, diagnose, treat and prevent cardiovascular diseases, as well as contribute to research.

Increased research

This reality that women are underrepresented in clinical research and publications is vital. promote research that contribute to the development of medicine.

Experts emphasize the need increase researchas gender differences in cardiovascular disease have traditionally been ignored and women’s characteristics are still not recognized or adequately treated.

“As a result they underrepresented in research clinical trials and publications, so we cannot make significant advances in knowledge and advances in treatments that can best help them.” says Dr. Fernandez-Friera.

Therefore, Corazón de Mujer’s priority is to raise public awareness of this issue and educate women about the need to take care of themselves.