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8 Tips to Protect Your Heart from Pollution Exposure
When you think of what may put you at risk for heart disease, you may not have considered pollution. However, there is an increased cardiovascular risk we face when we are exposed to poor air quality.
In this article, we will go over how pollution plays a role in your heart health as well as specific measures you can take to reduce your own risks.
Modern Steps Toward Reducing Heart Attacks & Cardiovascular Disease
Thanks to the many great advances in understanding what causes heart disease and determining highly effective ways to treat it, we have seen a 50% reduction in deaths from cardiovascular disease since 1950. However, pollution is an issue that continues to increase some people’s risks for cardiovascular issues.
Pollution caused an estimated 9 million deaths across the world each year. More than half of those deaths were from cardiovascular disease that resulted from that pollution exposure.
Tiny Particles = Big Heart Problems
The smallest particles of pollution are the areas of most concern. There are particles in the air that are so small, they easily pass through the body, reaching your lungs, heart, and other organs. Scientifically, they are called PM2.5, which stands for Particulate Matter that is 2.5 microns small or less. To put that size in perspective, thousands of those tiny particles could fit on the period at the end of this sentence.
Tiny particles are the greatest pollution risk to your heart.
Image Credit: New England Journal of Medicine
This chart from the New England Journal of Medicine shows how an increase in these small particles greatly increases an individual’s risk for various cardiovascular diseases.
The EPA recommends that a safe amount of these tiny particles is 35 micrograms.
Where do these tiny particles come from?
They are often created by vehicle exhaust. But can also come from burning fuels like oil or coal, as well as from powerplants. Even if you don’t live near a power plant, you may still be at risk for high exposure. These small particles can travel long distances, even across several states. In addition, they can come from wildfires and dust storms.
It may be hard to imagine that pollution is something to worry about indoors, but indoor air quality is a real concern. Smoking tobacco, burning candles or oil lamps, using your fireplace or space heater, and even cooking can create these tiny particles. Other sources include aerosol sprays and volatile cleaning products.
How bad is the pollution in Wichita?
Generally, Wichita maintains a relatively low and safe level of air pollutants. The levels do fluctuate over different seasons. In the late fall, it is relatively mild as the chart below shows.
You can check the current pollutant levels in Wichita at this website.
Who is at Greater Risk from High Pollution?
People who are ill or are elderly are at greater risk of being exposed to high levels of polluted air. Having current or prior heart disease or cardiovascular risk factors makes you more likely to be affected by pollutants.
Even recent studies on COVID 19 show that air pollution increased a person’s chances of dying from coronavirus disease.
Protecting Your Heart from Pollution: What Can You Do?
While many environmental threats are due to matters outside of an individual’s control, there are still several ways to be proactive in protecting yourself. You can minimize your exposure to several of the problematic pollutants with various lifestyle choices.
8 Tips to Protect Your Heart from Pollution Exposure
Remove yourself from cigarette smoke exposure. If you smoke, quit. If you are around people who smoke, try to separate yourself from being exposed to the smoke.
Improve your overall health by incorporating exercise into your life regularly and choosing a more plant-based diet.
Purchase personal care products that say BPA-free.
Reduce use of indoor air pollution sources including gas stoves, fireplaces, and incense.
Consider getting air cleaners installed in your home that works with your heating and air system to purify the air coming through your vents.
If you’re not able to avoid facing poor indoor or outdoor air quality, wear a mask.
Replace a high-traffic commute with an alternative route.
Another step you can take is to communicate to your physician or cardiologist any potential chemicals exposures you believe you face, such as your workplace environment.
If you have questions regarding your heart health, call Zepick Cardiology in Wichita at (316) 616-2020.
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How the Landmark SPRINT Trial is Reducing Risk for Cardiovascular Illness & Death
Getting control of your blood pressure is an important step in reducing your risk for cardiovascular disease. The extent at how low to reduce your numbers and just how beneficial this is to your heart was proven in a recent landmark clinical trial.
While advancements are made in the medical industry every year, an intensive study into blood pressure is proving to provide great opportunities to decrease some people’s risk for cardiovascular disease. This is helping the cardiologists at Zepick Cardiology and doctors across the country provide the most informed treatment to better reduce patients’ risk for heart attack, heart disease and other serious illnesses.
“Will lower blood pressure reduce the risk of heart and kidney diseases, stroke, or age-related declines in memory and thinking?”
This was exciting news for us at Zepick Cardiology. Our cardiologists constantly stay on top of the latest medical information, especially pertaining to the study and treatment of heart-related issues and diseases. Having the latest knowledge and proven data allows us to better treat our patients here in the Wichita area.
Blood Pressure: A Growing Problem
Our county faces a serious problem with blood pressure rates. It is estimated that as many as 103 million American adults suffer with high blood pressure. That means one in three people have issues from it, and it gets worse with age.
If you are over 65, chances are you have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. As many as 60% of seniors suffer with hypertension and that percentage is only increasing.
High blood pressure is a serious concern because of the increased risk it brings to developing other dangerous conditions. Having hypertension means you are more likely to experience health problems including:
Heart attack
Heart failure
Stroke
Kidney disease
Cognitive decline
What is a Healthy Blood Pressure Level?
For many decades prior to the SPRINT study, it was established that rates of acceptable numbers were up to 140 mm Hg for healthy adults and up to 130 for those with kidney disease. That would mean that a person with a blood pressure rate in the 130s would typically not receive treatment to lower it.
The SPRINT study intended to find out if there was enough proven benefit to increase these standards, to lower the desired blood pressure rate of patients down to 120.
The study put about half of the participants in an intensive group. These people received the necessary treatment to bring their number down to 120. The other half comprised the standard group and received less intensive treatment, only enough to keep their blood pressure down to under 140.
On average, the intensive group received three medications for blood pressure versus the standard group participants who received on average only two.
In the intensive group, they were able to bring the rating down to an average of 121.4. In the standard group, it was brought down to an average of only 136.2
The Expansive SPRINT Study
Despite its name, this trial was nothing like a sprint. For any scientific research to provide reliable information, it must meet rigorous standards. The SPRINT study was expansive, and its results were conclusive.
More than 9000 people participated in the SPRINT trial. While the average participant was 68, every participant was at least 50 years old. At least a quarter were 75 or older.
Each person had blood pressure rates of at least 130 and had increased cardiovascular disease risk. Some were previous or current smokers. And many were overweight according to their BMI.
The study began in late 2010 and was expected to last as long as 8 years. However, the results came back so reliable, the study was concluded earlier than expected, with the completion date of July 2016. It was important to health and medical experts that the findings be spread and utilized immediately to best serve the public’s best interest.
We now had new medical data that could help save lives. The experts knew the results were so conclusive, there was no reason to wait.
SPRINT Study Results
ThisSystolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial proved that lowering blood pressure below 130 reduced rates of several cardiovascular events, including strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure by nearly a third. It reduced the risk of death by nearly 25%.
The trial found that increased treatment for reducing blood pressure is beneficial, specifically for people who:
Are elderly
Have a high blood pressure (at/over 130 mm Hg)
Have a high risk for cardiovascular disease
Are tolerating their blood pressure medications well
According to the National Library of Medicine, if the new guidelines informed by the SPRINT study were put in place for adults across the country, we could prevent hundreds of deaths every year.
Danger of Increased Treatment?
With increased medications can come potential for harm from that treatment. Therefore, this study evaluated any harmful effects created by the increased treatment used to reach the lower 120 goal. They looked for such things as electrolyte abnormalities, fainting from a rapid drop of blood pressure, and increased risk of falls.
The study found that the intensive blood pressure treatment was indeed beneficial. It determined that any potential harm from the additional medication did not outweigh the overall overwhelming benefit of reducing to lower numbers.
“These results are extraordinary and provide us even better knowledge and tools in treating our patients’ heart health,” stated Dr. Zepick. “With this proven research, we can put a greater emphasis on reducing blood pressure levels, knowing that such treatment is a safe option to greatly reduce their risk of serious, even fatal, cardiovascular issues.”
Lessons learned in this landmark clinical study are changing treatment procedures for the better.
It helped inform new high blood pressure clinical guidelines of the American Heart Association as well as the American College of Cardiology. Previously, a blood pressure rating was considered high at 140. Now with the results of the SPRINT study, 130 is now considered a high rate, which means:
People who might not have previously been given treatment for hypertension now will be classified as needing treatment.
Patients already receiving blood pressure treatment may now receive more intensive treatment to bring it to lower, healthier numbers.
Beyond Heart Health
This SPRINT study is the first large prospective trial demonstrating the overwhelming health benefit of a healthy blood pressure rating of 120 in regard to cardiovascular health. But the benefits of the SPRINT study go beyond treating cardiovascular problems.
As mentioned earlier, the study looked at the effects of hypertension on other serious issues including chronic kidney disease and cognitive decline.
The completed research shows that enhanced efforts lowering numbers to more normal 120 rates did improve issues with chronic kidney disease. However, research is still ongoing regarding its effects on cognitive functioning including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
How Can This SPRINT Research Help Me?
If you have high blood pressure, you are at an increased risk for various problems including heart attacks and heart disease. And if you are at least 50 years old, this research suggests you may greatly benefit from a treatment plan to get your number under control.
Seeking out help from your doctor or an experienced cardiologist like those at Zepick Cardiology who understand how to implement the newest guidelines for your heart health is a great first step.
There is no one answer that works for every person. You will want to work closely with your doctor to ensure you are on a proper treatment plan. A good plan is one that works to safely improve your overall health.
“We know now that the lower blood pressure goal of 120 had better outcomes than the 140 goal. This doesn’t necessarily though apply to a given individual. It applies to the population.”
It’s going to be important to determine now what are the individual characteristics that may relate to this new improved goal. What are those factors that would help us to determine whether a given individual should be treated to that goal?Or whether perhaps they should be treated to a different goal?
So, the individualization of blood pressure management is going to take on more energy now given these exciting findings.”
-Dr. William Haley, principal investigator for Mayo Clinic of the SPRINT study
Concerned About Your Blood Pressure?
If you are concerned that your blood pressure is too high, you should get it checked by a medical profession. You can contact your general practitioner, or you can make an appointment with a local cardiologist directly.
Contact Zepick Cardiology here in Wichita. Call (316) 616-2020 to arrange for a visit with a cardiovascular specialist on any heart health concerns you have.
Simply put, a cardiologist is a specialist providing care specific to your heart health. While you receive the majority of care from your family doctors, a cardiologist in a cardiology clinic provides customized care necessary to look in depth at current or potential heart issues.
How do you know if it is necessary for you to see a cardiologist?
Let’s take a look at the common ways a person does see a cardiologist for the first time.
Often a person will first go to a cardiologist because they’ve been referred to see one by their primary doctor. If your doctor refers you to see one of our doctors at Zepick Cardiology or another Wichita cardiologist, do it. There would have been some reason to be concerned about your heart health for a doctor to make this recommendation.
The first times some people see a cardiologist is after a visit to the hospital. They came in with medical problems that indicate a potential heart issue.
But there are other times when it is prudent to make an appointment with a cardiologist.
When to See a Cardiologist
1. Family History of Heart Problems
Do you have a family history of cardiovascular issues? If your parents and/or grandparents had heart issues, there is good reason to worry about your own heart health. There is no guarantee you will have the same health problems they did, but there is an increased chance for it. Proactive measures are the best ways to keep your heart healthy and work to keep any hereditary issues at bay. A cardiologist can provide you with clear instructions for lifestyle change to help keep heart issues you may be genetically predisposed of at bay.
As you get older, inherited cardiovascular problems are likely to get worse. So, you don’t want to wait until the age your grandfather was when he had a heart attack. Getting checked by a cardiologist can give you the information you need early enough to work to prevent serious problems.
2. High Cholesterol
High cholesterol levels can lead to cardiovascular problems. What is quite dangerous about cholesterol problems is that they typically don’t cause symptoms. High cholesterol can be easy to ignore and yet also hard to manage. If you have discovered you have high cholesterol, it is best to take steps to lower your levels.
Diet and exercise go a long way in improving cholesterol levels. But sometimes a person’s cholesterol problems cannot be improved with either diet or exercise. A genetic or hereditary problem with cholesterol often requires medication to keep the bad cholesterol numbers low and to reduce your risk for potential heart problems. A cardiologist can work with you to create a heart-healthy plan as well as supply you with necessary prescriptions.
3. Smoking
If you’ve been smoking for a long time, you are at greater risk of having heart problems.
Quitting smoking can be an incredibly difficult habit to stop. Any medical professional will advise you to quit smoking, not just for your heart but for a variety of other health risks smoking causes. If you are not willing to quit smoking, do not let that stop you from seeking out medical care. Take the steps to speak with a cardiologist to learn what how your heart health may have been affected by a long history of smoking.
4. Embarking on a New Exercise Regimen
You’ve probably seen the warning given by workout programs to first consult with a doctor. This advice is given because starting a new exercise routine that may be difficult or strenuous and could increase your risk for heart or cardiac complications. Increased activity will, after all, put your heart to increased work.
Before starting a new exercise routine or regimen, it is advised that you speak with either your primary doctor or going right to a cardiologist for a heart check-up.
There have been new guidelines regarding medical checks before enhanced activity to help you know if you should seek prior medical advice. According to Penn Medicine, here are 3 questions to ask yourself before you start a new workout practice:
Are you typically not active? If you mostly have a sedentary lifestyle, you may want to consult a doctor before you start a new exercise program.
Do you have signs of heart problems or other conditions that might put you at higher risk for having heart problems? Diabetes, kidney disease and lung disease are just some issues that can predispose you to heart issues. Consult this exhaustive list of conditions that put women at higher risk for cardiovascular problems.
What is the exercise or activity you plan to participate in? If you are looking into starting a high-intensity exercise program (like running), you might want to visit a general doctor or cardiologist first. This is particularly true if you answered yes to the first question that you do not live a typically active lifestyle.
5. Gum Disease
Gum disease has been linked to heart problems. Bacteria from your gums can travel to your heart and lead to infections in your heart valves and inflammation in heart vessels. If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease, you should visit with a cardiologist to make sure your heart health is in check.
Symptoms That May Indicate Cardiac Issues
These next 6 reasons that lead to some people scheduling a visit with a cardiologist are because of certain physical ailments. These symptoms are often associated with cardiovascular issues. People who experience one or more of these could have serious heart problems that need to be diagnosed by a cardiologist.
6. Chest Pain
Chest pain, also called angina, is a real cause for concern. This could indicate a lot of serious health problems, including a heart attack or other cardiac issues.
There are many minor health issues that can cause chest pain, so feeling chest pain does not always mean that you are having heart problems. But because it is such a common ailment with someone suffering serious heart problems, it is a symptom that should not to be ignored or minimized.
7. Shortness of Breath
Feeling short of breath, like having chest pain, can mean a variety of different problems, some serious and some relatively minor. Shortness of breath, also called dyspnea, can indicate heart failure or other type of heart disease. For that reason, it is a symptom that may lead you to see a cardiologist.
When should you be concerned? Shortness of breath is a common, normal phenomenon when doing something strenuous or being in a high altitude, but if you experience shortness of breath that is not associated with extra physical activity, high altitude or weather changes, that symptom could indicate a health problem, potentially a life-threatening one.
8. Fainting
While many of us can recall an instance where we have passed out, that does not mean it’s an insignificant symptom that should be ignored. Fainting or passing out can be caused by an irregular heartbeat, which is called an arrhythmia. An arrhythmia occurs when there is a problem with the signals that control your heartbeat.
Diagnosing an arrhythmia isn’t simple, therefore it often requires an experienced cardiologist like those at Zepick Cardiology in Wichita. When getting tested, you may be asked about the circumstances surrounding your fainting spell including what you were doing, what and when you’d last eaten, and if you have any history of passing out.
While cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death among adults in the United States, stroke is the second. A stroke is when there is a problem keeping blood to get to the brain.
Are you aware of the acronym to help you quickly detect signs of a stroke?
F – Facial drooping
A – Arm weakness
S – Speech difficulties
T – Time to call 911
These symptoms are key to taking quick action for a person likely experiencing a stroke.
People with heart disease can have an increased risk for stroke. According to the National Library of Medicine, “9 out of 10 strokes can be prevented by controlling CVD (cardiovascular disease) risk factors.”
Issues with your heart such as high blood pressure can put you at greater risk for having a stroke. Getting any cardiovascular problems under control with the expert care of a cardiologist can not only help you prevent heart problems, but strokes as well.
10. Leg swelling
The issue of having ongoing swollen legs from excess fluid is called edema. It is often a sign of a heart problem.
When your heart isn’t accurately pumping blood through your body, the blood can back up in the veins in your legs. You may feel a pain, ache or burning in the muscles of your lower legs or feet. Sometimes these pains can show up during a walk then go away after resting for a few minutes. You may also feel too tired or weak to handle your normal day-to-day activities.
Having problems with swollen legs may be a clear indication that you should seek medical attention from a cardiologist to address your heart and blood flow.
11. Palpitations (skipping heartbeats)
Do you feel your heart fluttering? Is it pounding? Does it seem to be beating fast or even skipping beats? Having heart palpitations can be disconcerting as it can indicate serious problems with your cardiovascular system.
There are several factors that can cause heart palpitations other than heart disease, including some medications and exercise. A fever may cause palpations, as can depression or having too much coffee. Many people feel these sorts of heart irregularities for rather harmless reasons.
But there are times when this symptom indicates a more serious heart problem. If it’s happening frequently and lasting for longer than a few seconds, it could be from an issue that should be evaluated by a heart expert. This is especially true if it is accommodated by such other symptoms as fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath or dizziness.
What should you do if you fit into one of those categories?
One thing you can do if you have any of these concerns is to consult with your regular doctor. You should expect a doctor to listen to your concerns and provide you with some information and advice on next steps. They may refer you to a cardiologist for further medical testing.
You can also make an appointment with a cardiologist directly. To contact Zepick Cardiology here in Wichita, call (316) 616-2020. Even without a doctor’s referral, you can make arrangements to visit with a heart specialist on the health concerns you have.
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Understanding Cardiovascular Disease Risks for Women
It’s a sobering statistic. One in three women die from some form of cardiovascular disease.
It is the leading cause of death for women. In addition, it is also a rather common disease for women to be living with. Nearly half of all women over the age of 20 have some form of cardiovascular disease.
But how cardiovascular disease impacts women is different in many ways. This has become a focus for a lot of new research. The factors that cause a person to be at risk for cardiovascular diseases aren’t always the same for men and women. And sometimes when the factors are the same for both sexes, the risk factors are worse for women.
Science is uncovering new information that is helpful in both the prevention and treatment of heart disease for women.
A New Focus on Women’s Heart Health
Over the past few years, new studies have begun focusing specifically on cardiovascular problems for women. A large summary of recommendations for prevention of cardiovascular disease in women was put out just this year by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
All this research is great news to women, especially those facing a higher risk for developing heart issues. Instead of a one-size-fits-all treatment, these new efforts to understand how cardiovascular disease is different for women have led to improved guidelines customized for the most optimum and successful treatment specific to the needs of women.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors Unique to Women
Why do women get heart disease? Obesity, poor access to health care, and underlying health conditions are all risk factors that affect both men and women. But studies have found there are specific risk factors that put women particularly at a higher risk for cardiovascular problems.
PREMATURE MENOPAUSE
A woman is considered to have premature menopause when she experiences menopause before the age of 40. The body’s response to a drop in estrogen (including such things as changes to the distribution of body fat, glucose tolerance and higher blood pressure) causes in increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The recent research on this has been extensive, involving more than 300,000 women in testing. Early menopause (ages 40 – 44) and relatively early menopause (ages 45 – 49) were also studied and found to increase cardiovascular disease risk, although not as high.
However, there is still much we do not know about the link between early menopause and cardiovascular issues. It may be that there are other factors at play here. It could be that women who have certain factors that increase their chances for having both cardiovascular disease and early menopause.
POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME
Women of reproductive age can develop the hormonal disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women who suffer with PCOS may have infrequent menstrual periods or prolonged ones. The problems are often more severe if the woman is obese. Having polycystic ovary syndrome puts you at a higher risk of developing both heart disease as well as type 2 diabetes.
HYPERTENSION
While hypertension is a problem that can occur in both men and women, there are differences among the genders. Hypertension is less common in pre-menopausal women than of men of similar age. However, after menopause, women are more likely to suffer from hypertension then men of their age group.
Studies show there are various factors unique to women who have it. It is common for women with hypertension to:
Be obese
Decrease physical activity
Increase salt intake
Develop diabetes
Increase alcohol consumption (more than moderate use)
These activities or factors are also some of the biggest risks that cause women to develop heart disease. Women in this situation are recommended to reduce their salt intake (ideally less than 1500 mg daily) and to increase their daily amount of potassium from foods (ideally to at least 3500 mg daily).
DIABETES
Having diabetes increases a person’s risk for heart disease, making them twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack. Like hypertension, diabetes affects both men and women. But there are differences between the sexes in this disease and how it affects each gender’s risk for cardiovascular disease.
Girls are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than boys. Because of this, women tend to live longer with this disease than men. Studies show that people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes before the age of 40 are at higher risk of dying from a cardiovascular disease.
While recent studies bring to life information that some may find troubling, it also creates the opportunity to find treatment that is most affective. Studies on gender differences regarding diabetes has resulted in revelations about certain medications working better for men with other medications working better for women.
HIGH CHOLESTEROL
The first noticeable difference between men and women who have high cholesterol is in regard to medications. Women are less likely to be given statin therapy than men for their high cholesterol. Statin therapy has been shown to reduce occurrence of cardiovascular disease. However, a lack of proper studies in the past involving women cast doubt on whether statins were a safe and effective treatment for women.
RAPID OR IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT
Atrial fibrillation is a condition where you have a rapid or irregular heartbeat. Women with atrial fibrillation are 20% to 30% greater at risk of having a stroke than men with this disease.
DEPRESSION
Having depression, emotional stress, or other form of psychological issue has been shown to increase your risk for developing cardiovascular problems. These issues been proven to be risk factors for heart attack and cardiac death. It’s been shown that women diagnosed with clinical depression face twice the risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
Depression affects about 7% of the popular each year, and it’s twice as more common for women than
men. Psychological issues are often tied to childhood instances of adversity such as child abuse or neglect. Women have a higher exposure to these adversities. Such early life adversities are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but even more of a predictor for women.
PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has been found to increase a person’s risk for heart disease. This is true of either gender but is worth noting as an increased risk factor for women since they experience this problem more than men. PTSD affects 9.7% of women and 3.6% of men.
The problem relating PTSD to cardiovascular disease is increase when you consider lifestyle factors. Those who have suffered childhood trauma are more likely to take part in unhealthy activities and choices. Whether it’s smoking, over-eating or excessively drinking, people with PTSD are often exacerbating their heart risk with such poor health behaviors.
PREGNANCY & CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK
There are many issues related to pregnancy and childbirth that put women at a much greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease. From gestational diabetes to low birth weight to pre-eclampsia, the many different types of health problems a woman can face during pregnancy leads to a high risk.
For women, this may feel like only a lot of bad news. But in reality, the new information that focuses on women’s health will help lead the way to improved treatment and care and preventative help.
Understand that heart disease is indeed a serious risk for all women.
Be proactive in getting medical care and seeking necessary treatment.
Stop poor health behaviors such as smoking, too much drinking and salt intake.
Start/increase good health activities such as incorporating physical activity in your daily lifestyle.
Take your mental health needs seriously.
Knowledge is power. Knowing how you are uniquely affected by heart disease or the factors that put you at greater risk creates great opportunity for you to take proper steps to help your heart health.
Heart Disease Problem in Kansas
Do we have a bigger problem with cardiovascular disease here in Kansas than they do in other states? Not really. Kansas ranks right about in the middle among most statistics on heart disease.
As you see in this graph from America’s Health Rankings, 3.6% of all Kansas females and 5.3% of all Kansas males have diagnosed heart disease. This is just a little more than the national average.
If you have any questions or concerns about your heart health or proper treatment and care, feel free to call us at Zepick Cardiology here in Wichita, KS at (316) 616-2020.
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Women’s Health: Unique Risks for Developing Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. It is an important health concern that women should be aware of. While heart disease does affects both men and women, there are many different factors that can put a woman at an increased risk.
Among the risk factors that are unique to women is pregnancy. A variety of complications and health issues have been found to make a woman’s chances of facing heart issues double, triple or even worse. Here at Zepick Cardiology, we treat people of all demographics dealing with their own unique issues relating to their heart health.
New medical studies over the past few years have placed a focus on health matters that specifically affect women. There are many issues that put women at increased risk for heart disease from menopause to hypertension. A variety of complications and health issues surrounding pregnancy and birth have been found to make a woman’s chances of facing heart issues double, triple or even more.
Pregnancy: Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risks
ADVERSE PREGNANCY OUTCOMES
About 10% to 20% of all pregnancies have what is referred to as adverse pregnancy outcomes. This includes such situations as preterm birth, stillbirth, and low birth weight. These adverse outcomes have been found to be associated with an increased risk for those women to develop cardiovascular disease in their future. If you had one of these pregnancies, you are more likely to develop heart disease.
PREECLAMPSIA
Preeclampsia is a relatively rare hypertension disorder. It happens typically after 20 weeks into pregnancy and causes the woman to have dangerously high blood pressure. It can lead to serious, even fatal, problems such as seizures. Usually the condition goes away with, or shortly after, childbirth.
The most serious risks usually end when the condition ends with childbirth. But research shows that women who have experienced preeclampsia during pregnancy also face an increased risk of developing heart disease. Studies show that after 10-15 years after having preeclampsia, these women are face the following increase risks:
3.7 times greater risk for hypertension (high blood pressure)
2.2 times greater risk for ischemic heart disease (heart not receiving enough blood)
1.8 times greater risk for stroke
1.5 times greater risk for overall mortality
There are other hypertension disorders a woman can experience during pregnancy. Women who are diagnosed with any hypertensive disorder of pregnancy are at an increased risk for chronic hypertension, even as soon as within the first year after pregnancy. They also have double the risk of being hospitalized for a cardiovascular issue within 3 years of delivery.
Having a hypertension disorder during a pregnancy also increases the risk for coronary disease and for having heart failure and valvular heart disease.
GESTATIONAL DIABETES
Women who develop diabetes during their pregnancy find themselves at risk for further conditions. Not only are they at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, they also face increased risks for heart disease. Women who have gestational diabetes have:
double the risk of developing hypertension
double the risk for having a stroke
nearly three times more likely for having ischemic heart disease.
PREMATURE BIRTH
Giving birth several weeks early increase a woman’s risk for heart issues. Giving birth to a child before 37 weeks into the pregnancy doubles the mother’s risk for cardiovascular disease. It also doubles the risk for dying from coronary heart disease. When the birth happens prior to 34 weeks along, that risk is even high.
PREGNANCY LOSS
Women who have had a miscarriage or a stillbirth face greater cardiovascular disease risk. They have double the risk for having a heart attack (technically called myocardial infarction), a stroke (cerebral infarction), or renovascular hypertension.
Having had a miscarriage also puts you at 1.5 times increased risk of developing some form of cardiovascular disease. Multiple miscarriages increase that risk to 2 times.
Why it’s Important to Know Your Risks
If you faced one or more of these situations during a pregnancy, it can be disheartening to find out that it has put you at greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease. But there is some good news. With new research and knowledge into what puts women uniquely at risk for heart disease, doctors and cardiologists can be more able to react to the care you need. For example, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology now recommends that women who have an adverse pregnancy outcome undergo a cardiovascular risk screening withing 3 months after that pregnancy.
Getting correctly diagnosed with heart disease can mean the important treatment you need can begin sooner. In addition, when a physician identifies that a patient is at greater risk for developing cardiovascular issues, they can provide the proper recommendations to help protect the patient’s heart health. Increasing certain activities and making lifestyle changes can go far in helping a person avoid or delay developing dangerous conditions.
For some time in our medical history, women were being underdiagnosed with cardiovascular disease and/or not getting the sufficient treatment or care for it. Knowing how women are uniquely affected by heart disease or the factors that put them at greater risk creates great opportunity to help women better deal with or even prevent suffering with cardiovascular disease.
Questions About Your Heart Treatment?
When you get care at Zepick Cardiology in Wichita, we take the time to talk through your health and your risk factors. Whether you are a man or a woman, we will make sure to address your specific situation and as well as go over the best treatment and care for you.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your heart health, feel free to call us at Zepick Cardiology at (316) 616-2020.
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Houston, TX – A new review aiming to help physicians advise patients who are considering high-altitude activities such as trekking and skiing has been published in the January 2010 issue of the American Heart Journal [1].
Dr John P Higgins
Lead author Dr John P Higgins (University of Texas Medical School, Houston), a sports cardiologist, told heartwire: “We have issued two sets of recommendations. The first is for doctors seeing anyone who is relatively healthy and mentions that they are thinking of doing a trek to Kilimanjaro, for example. The second set is specifically for cardiac patients.”
Higgins says much of the advice is “common sense” and many cardiac patients anticipating such activities are pretty sensible and know what they are capable of. “If the disease is not too bad, in most cases the travel is possible with some very minor adjustment in medications and education about what to look out for,” he notes.
But there are those “who are having a mid-life crisis, have just turned 60 and might have had a heart attack in their 50s, and say, ‘Before I die, I want to do this expedition,’ ” he observes. Some of these latter patients “have no idea, and they can really run into trouble.”
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