Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is frequently viewed as a men’s concern, although the truth is quite different. Heart disease is the top cause of death in women worldwide, but many women are ignorant of the dangers and significance of regular cardiovascular screenings. Women’s experiences with heart disease may differ from men’s, making frequent heart checks even more important.
Here are four compelling reasons women should prioritise cardiovascular screening to maintain their long-term heart health:
- Adolescence and puberty are the first changes: A woman’s first menstrual cycle (menarche) typically occurs between 10 and 16, following a yearly increase in oestrogen production. Menstrual cycles have been demonstrated to influence a woman’s CVD risk later in life. For example, the age at which menarche occurs may affect CVD risk. A study discovered that those who had menarche before the age of 12 had a higher risk of CVD and its associated risk factors, such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes. The processes that connect early menarche with CVD are not fully known. However, they may be partly explained by hereditary and lifestyle variables such as limited physical activity and excessive calorie intake.
- Women are physiologically different from males: Biological elements specific to a woman’s life stage impact her cardiovascular health. Obesity, smoking, and diabetes are among the established risk factors for CVD in both men and women. However, the proportional importance of these factors may vary due to biological variances and behavioural patterns. According to the research, males have a more significant prevalence of diabetes than women. Still, diabetes raises cardiovascular risk three- to seven-fold in women, compared to a two- to three-fold rise in men. Men have a greater risk of CVD, while women are more likely to die following an acute cardiovascular incident.
- Pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related illness defined by hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation, proteinuria (protein in the urine), and end-organ failure. The cause of preeclampsia is unknown, and the only definite treatment is delivery of the foetus and placenta. Women with preeclampsia had a fourfold increased risk of having hypertension later in life, as well as a twofold increased risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, and venous thromboembolism. Furthermore, the degree of preeclampsia and its early start are linked to the severity of CVD later in life.
- Pregnancy and delivery can stress a woman’s heart. Pregnancy causes physiological demands on a woman’s body, especially her heart. As early as eight weeks of pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes various changes, including increased blood volume and cardiovascular output. Aside from typical physiological changes during pregnancy, a variety of pregnancy-related disorders have been linked to poor cardiovascular outcomes.