Why Heart Disease in Women is on the Rise

In recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of women suffering from cardiac problems . For many decades, the incidence of heart disease in women lagged far behind that of men. However, in recent years the gap has closed considerably. There are currently, over eight million women in the United States have been diagnosed with some form of cardiovascular disease.

What is it that has caused this sudden rise in the figures? What factors have made women more vulnerable to heart problems than they were a few years ago? In this article I want to look at some of the reasons why this has come about and what women need to do to ensure that their hearts remain healthy.

These days, weight and obesity have become a big issue with both men and women. Across the board, more people of both sexes are overweight or obese. This has come about because of a combination of less physical activity in our work and our free time, combined with the types of food we eat has led to this situation. If we are obese we are putting far more strain on our hearts than it would normally have if we weighed less. When we combine extra weight with the fact that we are consuming fats and carbohydrates in larger quantities than ever before, it is only logical to anticipate an increase in the presence of cardio health problems among women.

Whilst men have been giving up smoking in their droves over the last couple of decades we have not seen a similar pattern amongst women.. Actually, with women under the age of forty, the percentage of smokers has changed very little, and in a few sub-groups actually increased. This is a worrying trend because tobacco use leads to a number of bodily ailments, among them heart problems. Cigarette smoking among women is a direct cause of heart disease in many women today.

Women are also paying the price for success. High blood pressure is often brought on by a combination of prolonged stress, poor eating habits, and a lack of exercise. As women have become more and more prominent in the business world, more women have to deal with work and home. Trying to juggle work, family and home commitments can add to a woman’s stress levels and ust as with men, the stress levels can be extremely high. Many women that are pushed for time often cut corners by having takeout for dinner and not scheduling time for exercise. Over time, this situation may well lead to high blood pressure and the potential for cardiovascular damage to the body.

So what can women do to correct this situation? Fortunately, there are ways to slow and even reverse the trend. The first thing is to look at their diet and a woman should begin to pay closer attention to what and how she eats, as well as making sure there is time set aside for exercise several times a week. We all have some forms of stress in our lives and it is impossible to avoid it completely, especially in the workplace, but we have to find ways to minimize and contain the stress. Women of all ages must kick the weed and break the nicotine habit.

Smoking does not enhance any part of the personality, intelligence or the physical appearance of the individual. It even makes you smell bad and certainly, it does nothing to promote good health. Stop smoking immediately and allow your body to heal.

Now is the time to take a long look at your habits today, and begin to make changes that will ensure a longer and healthier life. You will need determination and a willingness to invest in a healthier lifestyle. In the end, the effort will be worth it with many more years to spend with our loved ones. Heart disease in women is a phenomenon that can be greatly reduced in our generation.