So far I have mentioned the potential deadly effects of smoking and hypertension (high blood pressure) on a women’s heart. I chose these first because they pose the greatest risk. They don’t stand alone, however. Women are as in just as much danger as men if they have a high cholesterol, are obese, or are inactive. But as with smoking, there are other risk factors that make heart disease even a greater risk or more complicated.
Diabetes can double the risk for women developing heart disease. It also can double the risk of women having a second heart attack, but not so in men. Diabetes also affects many more women than men after the age of 45.
Emotional stress and depression seems to have a more debilitating effect on women than men with regards to heart disease. Some experts believe that the increased chance of depression in women may be related to changes in hormone levels that occur throughout a woman’s life. This is compounded by the loss of estrogen at menopause thus exacerbating the heart disease risk. Some experts believe that the increased chance of depression in women may be related to changes in hormone levels that occur throughout a woman’s life. Getting your stress and/or depression under control can improve a women’s heart disease risk for the better by leaps and bounds!
Here is the risk factor list all in one place:
- Smoking*
- High Blood Pressure*
- Diabetes*
- Emotional Stress and/or Depression*
- Obesity*
- Inactivity*
- High Cholesterol*
- Age
- Genetics
- Ethnicity
*These are the ones we have some control over.
Tomorrow, I will finish up this series with guidelines and suggestions on ways we can give this number one killer in women a one-two punch! A monetary donation to the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women effort is a fantastic start, but tomorrow’s article will show you that there is so much more, so stay tuned for the conclusion.
Hudson Valley Community College will participate in Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 6. The event is part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Campaign.
Those (men too!) who make a donation of at least $5 will receive and pin and the “right” to wear red on Feb. 6.
Please consider making a donation today!
Donations may be made with the following volunteers:
–Tanya Hicks (ADM 240)
–Tara Bocketti or Deb Larkin (GUN 252)
–Vonnie Vannier or Tara Farley-Wyckoff (BTC 1042)
–Mary Musso (MCD 214)
–Cathy Campchero (BRN 008)
Published: Thu, 05 Feb 2015 13:04:20 +0000 by m.musso