Women & Heart Health

Statistics indicate that heart disease is the number one cause of mortality in women around the world. Estimates suggest that out of ten million deaths annually in India, about two million are due to diseases of circulatory system, & women form 40% of those who die due to cardiovascular issues.

Heart disease has often been associated only with men, but in recent times this belief has been changing. A low level of estrogen due to changing lifestyles & other comorbid conditions is among the key reasons for younger women developing cardiovascular diseases in India. Other risk factors that can exacerbate the condition include a higher prevalence of diabetes, obesity & related ailments, &  physical inactivity, & these have only worsened the problem. With women juggling the dual responsibility of house & work, the resultant mental stress can also be attributed to their heart conditions.

The first step towards preventing heart disease among women is to make them aware of the symptoms of a heart condition. They should also be made aware of the precautions they should take to prevent the disease. For example, women may get a heart attack without the characteristic chest pain – they may complain of few of the associated symptoms such as indigestion, shortness of breath, palpitations or pain in the jaw, neck or arms.

There are various treatment options for heart disease. Some of these include coronary angioplasty where a balloon is threaded into the affected blood vessel & inflated, pushing the plaque blocking the artery to the sides of the vessel. Sometimes, this procedure is accompanied by placement of a stent. Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure. Having an angioplasty within the first hours after a heart attack can reduce the risk of complications. The faster the treatment is done, the lower will be the risk of heart failure, other complications, & death. In addition, angioplasty can also relieve the symptoms of heart disease if a person has not had a heart attack. One can also consider drug-eluting stents (DES) which are used to prevent the arteries from getting blocked again by releasing an antiproliferative drug. According to a recent study, DES was found to be beneficial among patients undergoing PCI & with high bleeding risk.