CVD- Cardiovascular Disease The Number One Killer In Women

It is always easy to feel the dread of being terminally ill as one progresses in age. As women the greatest source of fear as regards our health is getting a negative doctors report during routine medical checks. Usually right at the top of health issues women fear the most is the big C word ‘Cancer’. Conversely, while cancer is a deadly killer heart disease in women is much worse.

There is a general assumption that men are more pre-disposed to heart diseases due to certain risk factors but medically it’s been proven that women suffer more from cardiovascular diseases by more prevalent risk factors. In the research article published by ‘The Lancet’ of May 17, 2021, it was noted that “despite being responsible for causing 35% of deaths in women each year, cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women remains understudied, under-recognised, under-diagnosed, and under-treated, with women under-represented in clinical trials.”

The common risk factors responsible such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, smoking, inactivityare inclusive of other comorbidities such as PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) or pregnancy related risk as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes which make women be at a higher risk of heart related diseases.

As women grow older there are other factors which contribute to the risk factors mentioned earlier. These include hormonal changes as well as mental health conditions. When women gradually progress towards menopause their bodies produces less and less of oestrogen which increases the risk of heart failures and likewise depression and anxiety increases the stress levels in women resultant in making poor nutritional and health choices exposing them to heart diseases.

It is key to know the various types of CVD in getting more aware of its effect in women, especially older women.

Coronary Heart Diseases: This is a function of a build-up of plaque in the wall of the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart. The biggest culprit responsible for this condition is ‘Cholesterol’. The liver is the organ responsible for generating the cholesterol needed by the body. While the body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, an excessive amount of it in the body increases the risk of heart diseases. It increases fatty deposits in blood vessels which overtime causes difficulty in blood flow through the arteries.

Some of the foods that can cause high cholesterol levels if not regulated are red meat, full fat diary, processed foods, fried foods, and butter. And some of symptoms of high cholesterol levels are left sided chest pains or pressure, unsteady gait, slurred speech, or pain in lower legs.

Heart Failure: This is an occurrence due to the hearts muscle inability to pump blood as well as it should. When this happens, blood would usually back up and fluid will build up in the lungs. Heart failure is categorized in 4 stages:

Stage A: People who are at risk of heart failure but do not yet have symptoms or structural or functional heart disease. Risk factors for people in this stage include hypertension, coronary vascular disease, diabetes, obesity, exposure to cardiotoxic agents, genetic variants for cardiomyopathy and family history of cardiomyopathy.

Stage B: These are at pre-heart failure stage. They are without current or previous symptoms of heart failure but with either structural heart disease, increased filling pressures in the heart or other risk factors.

Stage C: People with current or previous symptoms of heart failure they are at symptomatic heart failure stage.

Stage D: These are people with advanced heart failure. They have symptoms that interfere with daily life functions or lead to repeated hospitalizations.

Stroke: Strokes are attributed to blood supply issues to the brain. It can be caused by either a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or a leak or burst in a blood vessel (haemorrhagic stroke). Strokes cause debilitating conditions such as brain damage, disability and can even lead to death.

Symptoms to look out for

As women it is imperative to be cautious and be on the lookout for any of these symptoms highlighted that can cause heart diseases. Women are more likely to present symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, back or jaw pain and extreme fatigue. If experienced it is best advised to see a physician. 

Choices and Lifestyle Changes

Having a healthy regimen and making right lifestyle choices are preventive measures for battling CVD. Some suggestions that are helpful are in the areas of:

·       Regular exercises

·       Maintaining a healthy weight

·       Healthy diet

·       Stress management

·       Not smoking

·       Awareness of health status

·       Regular check-ups

Conclusively, more awareness needs to be made about CVD in women. Conscious efforts at individual and societal levels needs to be put into educating, providing support, and giving the right medical assistance to women in reducing the alarming high mortality rate to the disease. Being ahead of it is more cautionary and pro-active than reactionary.

Written By WiiN Member_ Adeshola Ekpo