In the past few years, Indian women, particularly urban, have broken most stereotype thrusts on them by traditional society. Women now pursue careers, smoke, drink, eat junk food and lead hectic lifestyles. Ironically, these symbols of emancipation are now posing a serious health threat to them. The result is that coronary diseases top the chart of women diseases. About CAD: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition where plaque clogs the lining of arteries that supply blood and nutrients to the heart. Slowly, plaque, of which cholesterol is a major ingredient, narrows the arteries and obstructs the flow of blood, posing the risk of heart attack.
Types of heart ailments in women: The other common heart ailment in women is valvular heart disease in which the valves start leaking or get obstructed. It could lead to heart failure if not treated on time. Valvular diseases can be congenital or acquired. But rheumatic valvular heart disease is commonest among young woman in India. A degenerative valvular disease, which predominantly causes a valve leak, is the second most prominent. Other forms of congenital diseases and aortic dissection are also seen in women.
A few years ago, CAD was considered to be predominantly a man’s problem. In women, CAD was reported only in the post-menopausal stage. But the trend is fast changing in urban India. You all will be surprised to read that the prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome among urban Indians is 44.2 percent among women and 17.6 percent for men. Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that increases the chances of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
Now younger and middle-aged women are facing problems of coronary artery diseases and heart attacks. Besides smoking, drinking, increased stress, sedentary lifestyle, abnormal cholesterol levels, abnormal eating habits, diabetes, high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease, obesity and oral contraceptives put women at high risk of CAD.
Estrogen was once believed to insulate younger women from cardiac problems. But now changes in lifestyle are altering the patterns, with pre-menopausal women also falling victim to CAD. Awareness about heart disease in women is low among both physicians ad the public. In older women, other diseases, such as arthritis or osteoporosis, can obscure CAD symptoms and delay diagnosis. They may also suffer from chest pain, abdominal pain, and difficulty in breathing, nauseas and fatigue.
Treatment for coronary disease: As far as treatment for coronary disease is concerned, prevention is always better than cure. Women who fall in the high-risk categories should undergo regular screening and take preventive measures. Adequate lifestyle changes can considerably reduce the risk too.
A diet rich in high-fiber foods, fruits, vegetables and fish is ideal. The intake of saturated fat, Tran’s fats, alcohol, and sodium should be minimized. Avoid both active as well as passive smoking. Make sure to maintain regular and accommodating fitness regime. Keep your stress levels down both at home and office. High stress levels can certainly give rise to high blood pressure thereby increasing the chances of strokes.
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