Prevention & Risk Analysis for Heart Disease

Studies show that people who are informed about health care get the best treatment. So don't be shy--talk about these issues: Heart-attack symptoms. If upper abdominal pain, nausea and fatigue strike, don't wait to get help. Along with chest pain, these are common symptoms of heart attack in women. Studies show that women are less likely to receive early treatment during a heart attack, possibly because their symptoms aren't the same as the typical symptoms in men.

There are many risk factors involved in heart disease. Check the heart health analyser, a risk evaluation tool for heart disease.

Aspirin. A recent study found that women were less likely to receive aspirin, an effective treatment to help prevent a second heart attack, after discharge from the hospital. A complete cholesterol checkup. High levels of triglycerides may be as artery clogging as high cholesterol. The Framingham Heart Study found that high triglyceride levels are related to higher risk of heart attack in women, not men, although experts aren't sure why.

Clinical trials. Although more women are signing up for single-sex studies than ever before, only 38 percent of participants in studies including both sexes are women. By analyzing sex differences, researchers may find new answers to help both men and women.

Reduce Your Risk Through Exercise :

Being physically fit helps protect the heart, perhaps even more than eating a nutritious diet. A study at Stanford University found that volunteers who exercised three times a week cut their cholesterol, while those on a low-fat diet saw no change.

Here are easy ways to get moving:

1. Kick it up a notch. According to a recent study, a vigorous workout has double the heart benefits of mild exercise. Men who jogged, played tennis or swam cut their risk of a heart attack by as much as 20 percent.

2. Fit it in. Too busy to exercise? Studies show that several short sessions of exercise (about fifteen minutes each) can cut heart-attack risk as much as a longer workout.

3. Pump some iron. Regular strength training increases muscle strength and endurance, improves heart function and reduces the risk of coronary disease. Plus, it can boost metabolism.

4. Take some flextime. Try yoga and breathing and relaxation techniques. Recent research suggests that these types of exercises may help reverse symptoms of heart disease.

Other Risk Reduction Starategies :

The daily grind can take a toll on your heart. If you're constantly stressed, blood pressure climbs and the risk of heart attack increases. Ease up with simple changes:

1. Indulge yourself. Getting a massage is not only relaxing, but it also reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure and improves circulation.

2. Get over your grudge. If you're steamed about an argument with your spouse, make sure the rift gets resolved. In a study of newlyweds, researchers found that wives who used negative words to describe their marriage had more of an increase in stress hormones than their husbands did. Over time, high stress levels can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

3. Adopt a furry friend. Researchers asked one hundred married couples to discuss a recent argument and found that the blood-pressure readings of pet owners were lower, rose less and returned to normal faster than readings of those without pets.

4. Soothe your temper. A recent study found that people who get angry easily have a nearly threefold higher risk of a heart attack or dying from heart disease than calmer folk.

5. Make new friends and keep the old. Research suggests that people who have little contact with friends and family have a two to three times greater risk of heart disease than those with a good support network.

6. Kick the habit. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, 50 percent of heart attacks in middle-aged women are linked to smoking.

For a comprehensive analysis of your risk for yourself and your family members check out the Heart Health Analyzer.