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In the hustle and bustle of daily life, women often keep their health on the last priority. Problems like shortness of breath while climbing the stairs of the house, feeling extremely tired after doing even a little work, lightheadedness, dizziness or sudden nervousness have become very common in today’s time. But unfortunately, people in the young age group of 30 to 40 years completely ignore these initial symptoms and leave it as just general weakness or fatigue. Dr., senior cardiologist of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute (Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi) says that this small carelessness regarding women’s health can turn into a serious and fatal challenge in the future. Therefore, do not ignore any initial symptoms and get your complete medical checkup done in time.
Do women suffer from heart diseases only after menopause? Know the biggest medical myth
There is a very old and strong belief in the society and among the common women that heart diseases or heart attacks affect only men or women after menopause. But recent studies published in medical science and renowned pulmonary and cardiological research journals like ‘Journal Hypertension’ have completely refuted this myth. Doctors clearly say that heart related complications are now spreading rapidly even in younger women, much before menopause. Therefore, it is very important that women not only keep a close eye on their eating habits and diet, but also make physical activity an important part of their daily life. Along with this, every woman should have complete information about the basic medical data related to her health – such as what is the blood pressure (BP), what is the cholesterol level, whether the blood sugar is controlled or not, and whether the body weight is increasing beyond the prescribed limit.
How does deficiency of estrogen hormone become a problem? Risk of plaque accumulation in arteries
The hormone ‘estrogen’, naturally found in women’s bodies, acts as a protective shield for their hearts. This hormone protects women from the possible risk of heart diseases by keeping the blood vessels flexible and healthy. Estrogen increases the level of good cholesterol (HDL) in the body and helps in reducing bad cholesterol (LDL), which prevents accumulation of fat or plaque in the arteries. Apart from this, it also prevents inflammation in the inner parts of the blood vessels. But generally, when menopause occurs in women between the ages of 40 and 50, estrogen levels start falling rapidly. Due to this hormonal change, many adverse changes begin to occur in the body such as rapid weight gain, increase in the level of bad cholesterol and creation of insulin resistance. If women are not cautious about their lifestyle before menopause, then this infection can become a big risk for them.
Modern lifestyle and hormonal imbalance: Why the risk of heart attack is increasing at a young age
Till a few decades ago, women used to feel completely healthy and energetic till the age of 50 to 60 years and during that period, cases of heart attack in women were considered very rare. But today’s modern lifestyle has completely changed this picture. At present, when women reach the threshold of menopause, they are surrounded by many serious metabolic disorders and diseases. Its main reasons include excessive mental stress, heavy work pressure, lack of physical activity or exercise, carelessness in eating habits and excessive consumption of junk food. Apart from this, cigarette-tobacco consumption or passive smoking also increases this risk manifold. If you are also experiencing the problem of hormonal imbalance and are noticing changes like feeling much more hungry or thirsty than normal days, then contact your doctor immediately.
Increase your physical ability and muscle strength through strength training.
Women often wonder how to start going to the gym or exercising. Health experts advise that you should never start heavy workouts all at once, but gradually develop your physical capacity. Like men, ‘Strength Training’ is equally important for women. After menopause, women’s body begins to lose muscle strength and bone density rapidly (called osteoporosis and sarcopenia). To avoid this natural damage, it is important to be alert from now on. In the beginning, use light dumbbells and resistance bands. If you have back or waist pain, do not do any heavy exercise without doctor’s advice, rather decide the routine only under the guidance of an expert.
Adopt this special heart-healthy diet to keep your heart healthy.
Make positive changes in your kitchen and eating habits to keep your heart safe and healthy throughout life:
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Green leafy vegetables: Include plenty of fresh green vegetables like spinach, fenugreek, bathua and bottle gourd in your daily diet.
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Seasonal Fruits: Fruits like apple, papaya, guava, orange and seasonal fruits are rich in antioxidants and dietary fiber, which keep cholesterol under control.
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Whole grains: To keep cholesterol under control and balanced, include barley, jowar, millet and oatmeal in your diet.
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Choosing healthy fat: Completely stay away from deep-fried and trans-fat items (like samosas, French fries, burgers, pizza and processed foods). Instead of this, consume moong, lentils, gram and different types of pulses which improve overall health.