CARDIOLOGY
Robert Carhart, MD
|
|
|
|
Are you at RISK?
|
You could be if you answer "yes" to the following:
• Do you smoke?
• Are you considerably overweight with too much fat in your waist area?
• Do you have diabetes?
• Do you have high blood pressure?
• Do you have a family history
of heart disease?
• Are you physically inactive?
• Are you stressed?
• Are you postmenopausal?
Your risk also increases if you:
• Don't see your doctor regularly, don't address your medical needs, and don’t believe heart disease can happen to you.
• The more risk factors, the greater the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Some of these factors can't be controlled, such as age, family history, race and gender. But you can can modify, treat or control most risk factors to lower your risk.
|
More Facts to Ponder
The Cancer Threat
Many women believe that cancer, particularly breast cancer, is more of a health threat but they're wrong. Nearly twice as many women in the United States die of heart disease and stroke as from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer, combined.
Cholesterol
Studies show that, from menopause on, women’s cholesterol is higher than men's. High levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) increase the risk of heart disease and heart attack. High levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) lower the risk of heart disease. Research has shown that low levels of HDL cholesterol seem to be a stronger risk factor for women than for men.
Physical Inactivity
Studies have shown that heart disease is almost twice as likely to develop in inactive people than in those who are more active.
Gender
Men have a greater risk of heart attack than women, and they have attacks earlier in life. The incidence and prevalence of stroke are about
equal for men and women. However, more than half of total stroke deaths occur in women.
Race
African-American women have a greater risk of heart disease and stroke than caucasian women, in large part because they have higher average
blood pressure levels. Compared with caucasians, African-American men and women are more likely to die of stroke.
Age
The chances of developing heart disease increase as women grow older. As women approach the age of menopause, their risk of heart disease and stroke begins to rise and keeps rising with age. The loss of natural estrogen as women age may contribute to this higher risk after menopause.
|
