If you’re a woman and you’re worried about the state of your heart health, here’s some good news for you: the American Heart Association (AHA) has just released new guidelines aimed at reducing your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
There is a perception in the general population that heart attacks happen mostly to men. However, according to the AHA, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women over the age of 65. In fact, women are four to six times more likely to die of heart disease than of breast cancer — and heart disease kills more women over 65 than all other cancers combined. Plus, according to recent studies, women are less likely to survive a heart attack than men.
Given these alarming statistics, “The new updated guidelines are extremely exciting because they advance our science quite a bit and our ability to provide guidance to physicians and other health care providers on the best practices for prevention for women,” said Dr. Lori Mosca, who is the chair of the AHA.
Whereas previously the guidelines classified women as being at high, medium, or low risk, the new guidelines divide women into high, at risk, and optimal categories. This is to reflect the prevalence of heart disease among women, with the optimal category only accounting for about 10% of the population.
The new guidelines also rethink recommendations on aspirin use, hormone replacement therapy, and vitamin and mineral supplementation.
Women are still being encouraged to eat a heart-healthy diet consisting of fruits, whole grains, and fiber-rich foods. And the guidelines still recommend you limit your intake of alcohol and sodium.
Women are now being encouraged to eat oily fish — a source of omega-3 fatty acids — twice a week. Though Mosca adds that “This is not recommended for all women but can be considered a balance of benefit and risk for women at high risk.”
Exercise is still being touted as a necessary preventive measure. An hour of moderate activity every day can help promote circulation and strengthen the heart. It can also help to keep those excess pounds off.
Women at very high risk are now being encouraged to keep their LDL cholesterol levels lower than 70 md/gl. Otherwise, women at high risk should still aim for an LDL level of 100 md/gl, or less. If you are unsure what your cholesterol level is, check with your doctor or health care provider.
Other changes made in the new guidelines include the recommendation that folic acid should not be used to treat heart disease. This is a big change from the previous guidelines.
Heart disease continues to be epidemic among women, accounting for one in three deaths. Look for a more in- depth feature on this topic in an upcoming issue of The Doctors Journal of Alternative Remedies and Cures.
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Tags: Cholesterol, heart disease
