Dumaguing: 10 myths, truths about women’s cardio health
Reported June 16, 2007
1. STATEMENT: “I feel ok, so I must be a healthy woman”
Answer: FALSE — Even though when we think of cardiovascular disease we typically associate it with myocardial infarction or cardiovascular accident, the truth is that effects on the heart and the arteries are produced in a very slow and silent way.
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Furthermore, most of the so-called cardiovascular risk factors do not show any symptoms. Therefore, it is very important not to wait until the onset of cardiovascular disease symptoms. Instead, we should adopt habits aimed at prevention and control.
The World Heart Foundation has recently released a campaign called “Find out your numbers” with the central goal of encouraging anyone from 20 years old onwards to find out their numbers for cholesterol level, blood pressure, waist size and blood sugar level.
The levels recommended are:
* Total Cholesterol: <200 mg/dl. (in healthy people)
* Blood pressure: <120-80 mm Hg (in healthy people); <140-90 mm Hg (in hypertensive patients)
* Blood sugar: <100 mg/dl. (in healthy people)
* Waist size: <120 cm (men); <88 cm. (women)
* Smoking: 0 (zero)
* Walking: At least 40 minutes daily
2. Statement: “I only smoke a couple of cigarettes a day, that won’t hurt.”
Answer: FALSE — There is no “harmless” smoking level. No matter how many cigarettes you smoke, smoking is harmful for your health and, particularly in women, the consequences of smoking are serious. You shouldn’t smoke and you shouldn’t share room space with smokers.
If you are a smoker and you have decided to give up your addiction, try to get medical aid: this will significantly improve your prospects of success.
3. Statement: “Cancer must be the leading death cause among women.”
Answer: FALSE — the leading cause of death in women is of cardiovascular origin: in Argentina, one out of three women die due to cardiovascular disease and one out of five die of cancer. Most women, however, ignore this fact.
According to the survey “Women’s Cardiovascular Health through Women’s Eyes,” a study carried out one year ago by the Argentina Heart Foundation, only 20 percent of women surveyed were aware of this fact.
4. Statement: “Women are concerned about cardiovascular risk factors”
Answer: FALSE — In the survey previously mentioned, most women showed certain awareness of risk factors and the habits they should adopt in order to reduce cardiovascular risk. However, this knowledge is only present in theory and is rarely put into practice. In fact, only one out of 10 women pointed to cardiovascular disease as the main problem affecting women’s health.
Furthermore, 30 percent of the surveyed women were smokers, while half had a sedentary lifestyle and many failed to seriously monitor their own blood pressure and cholesterol level.
5. Statement: “Women are protected until we reach menopause, so until we get there, our cardiovascular risk is smaller than men’s”
Answer: TRUE — this statement is true but it calls for an explanation. Women with risk factors are as likely to develop cardiovascular disease as men. So a female smoker with high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes or a history of cardiovascular disease in close relatives should get frequent medical check-ups and begin a program to change her habits as soon as possible.
6. Statement: “I’m too young; I’m only 20 now … cardiovascular health will be a concern only when I get to my 40s”
Answer: FALSE — The American Heart Association recommends that people adopt healthy habits, even from early infancy. Our main recommendations are:
* Learn to eat using very little salt
* Keep a varied diet, including lots of fruits and vegetables and little red meat and cold meat.
* Exercise regularly.
* Get to know your numbers: cholesterol level, blood pressure, blood sugar level and waist perimeter. If any of these values is enlarged, you should consult your physician immediately.
7. Statement: “My blood pressure is high, but it’s because I’m always so stressed”
Answer: FALSE — Blood hypertension is a disease affecting the walls of body arteries, characterized by an increase in their thickness, showing changes in artery structure and resistance. Any stressful situation may cause a temporary rise in blood pressure levels, but if your blood pressure remains high, then you may be facing indications of hypertension as a disease.
Everyone should be aware of their blood pressure level and if after several measurements, the level remains above 140/90 mm Hg., the patient is considered hypertensive, which calls for an immediate consultation with the physician.
8. Statement: “Most people with hypertension are unaware of their condition”
Answer: TRUE — According to a survey performed in 2005 by the local Health and Environment Ministry, 36 percent of the Argentine population suffers from blood hypertension.
A similar survey done by the Food and Nutrition Research Center in 2006 noted that 18 percent of Filipinos have hypertension. This affliction causes several complications, mainly stroke and heart failure. Both complications have a mortality rate which is similar (or above) that for cancer.
More dangerous is the fact that half of hypertensive patients ignore their condition while in most cases those who were already diagnosed do not receive proper treatment.
9. Statement: “I’m diabetic and I’m under treatment, so I can eat as much as I want. Then I take my pills and that’s it”
Answer: FALSE — Diabetic patients have double cardiovascular risk compared to non-diabetics. It is important to keep blood sugar levels within the parameters indicated by your physician permanently and avoid eating in excess because an increase in blood sugar levels leads to irreversible damage of body blood vessels.
10. Statement: “Exercising daily for less than an hour is not worth doing”
Answer: FALSE — Though we recommend daily exercise for at least 40 minutes, performing any kind of physical activity as many days per week as possible can be useful and adds some benefit to your health.
It is true scheduled routines are helpful to an integral fitness program but don’t wait to have all the free time you feel you need to get started. Be active, walk, and move as much as you can when doing daily activities; even housework and gardening are beneficial activities.
There is always some kind of activity you can perform, even when you have a physical handicap. An active and dynamic attitude is key.