Eulalee Thompson
More women are becoming victims of heart
disease and it might not be because they are too stressed out but because they are too fat.
High among the disorders on the top ten list of 'leading causes of death' in Jamaica is heart
disease and other related conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. In the United States, it is the leading cause of death, not only among men, but women too.
That women are increasingly becoming victims of heart disease is a growing concern among
medical practitioners. One theory is that more women are holding down 'top jobs' previously held by men and therefore subjected to stresses previously peculiar to the so-called man's world. Enter the man's arena and take on their stresses and diseases. However, Dr. Knox Hagley, chairman of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, said that the 'stress theory' may be a little too far-fetched.
"It is not easy to assess for stress. What is stress for one person may not be stress for another
person and we have done studies that investigate indigenous people to see if stress plays a role," he said.
HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES
Of far more importance in determining women's risk for heart disease, Dr. Hagley said, is the prevalence of such chronic diseases as hypertension and diabetes. The general rise in blood cholesterol levels among women is also feeding into the trending up of the heart disease statistics among women.
"We can't however, overlook the role that being overweight plays in heart disease and being overweight is also linked to high
cholesterol levels, diabetes and hypertension. To a large extent the increase risk for heart disease relates to obesity, and this is one of the reasons that we are focusing on obesity and heart disease this month," he said.
More women than men in Jamaica are fat, according to data collected here. In fact, the
statistics point to about 40 per cent of the adult females being overweight compared to 15 per cent of male adults.
"Women are bearing the greater share of the chronic disease burden. We must recognise the importance of body weight in the disease
profile. It is easy to put on but difficult to take off ... but if we can get a reduction in body weight we can reduce coronary heart disease," Dr. Hagley said.
There are five strategies recommended by health professionals to cut women's risk for heart disease and take control of their health. Here they are:
1 Check if your diet is heart-healthy A heart-healthy diet is low on saturated fat and trans fat but rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Choose low-fat dairy products and low-fat sources of proteins such as fish.
2 Maintain a healthy weight Increased weight increases your chances for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, all of which, Dr. Hagley pointed out, are associated with heart disease. Get help in calculating your body mass index (BMI) your height/weight measurement to assess whether you have a healthy weight. BMIs which are greater than 25 are associated with greater risk for heart
disease and stroke.
3 Do regular exercise Regular exercise cuts the heart disease risk by about 25 per cent, according to some statistics, and the benefits of exercise increases when combined with healthy weight management and healthy lifestyle. Dr. Hagley notes that exercise by itself will achieve only limited weight loss and must be combined with reduced caloric intake to cut back on body fat.
4 Don't smoke tobacco Only between 14 and 15 per cent of adult women smoke
cigarettes in Jamaica and though the number doesn't seem to be increasing, cigarette smoking is listed as a major risk factor for heart disease. Researchers indicate that the chemicals in the tobacco smoke damage the heart and blood
vessels putting women at greater risk for
atherosclerosis, that is, the narrowing of the arteries, a risk factor for a heart attack.
5 Make a date with your doctor Regular screening for blood pressure and
cholesterol levels are in your best interest. High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, as Dr. Hagley pointed out, can damage your
cardiovascular system.
Remember, it's your health, take control.
You can send me your comments at eulalee.thompson@gleanerjm.com.
