How women can reduce their risk from heart disease!
"Women Health Awareness"
Leana Sheryle Wen (Chinese: 温麟衍; born Wen Linyan; January 27, 1983) is an American physician, author, professor, speaker, consultant, newspaper columnist and television commentator. She is former health commissioner for the city of Baltimore and former president of Planned Parenthood. She has written two books based on her experiences as a medical professional.
Dr. Leana Wen explained that heart disease encompasses several cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart rhythm abnormalities, and heart failure. She noted that risk factors for coronary artery disease include hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and smoking. Additionally, she mentioned abnormalities in the heart's structure, such as defects in valves or holes in the heart wall, which can be congenital or develop over time due to various factors.
When asked about gender differences in how heart disease affects individuals, Dr. Wen acknowledged that women tend to have smaller hearts and blood vessels compared to men, which can lead to a higher likelihood of developing heart disease in the smaller arteries of their hearts. She also highlighted hormonal changes, such as fluctuations in estrogen levels, and noted that women are more likely than men to have certain conditions like anemia and endometriosis, which increase their risk of heart disease.
Regarding cardiac problems during pregnancy, Dr. Wen mentioned conditions like gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, which can affect heart health both during pregnancy and later in life. She emphasized the importance of women being aware of these conditions and monitoring their heart health before, during, and after pregnancy.
When discussing symptoms that warrant urgent medical attention, Dr. Wen described classic heart attack symptoms such as chest pain, pain in the jaw and neck extending to the left arm, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and nausea. She noted that women may experience vague or non-classic symptoms like fatigue, nausea, and upper abdomen discomfort, which can lead to misdiagnosis.
In terms of improving cardiac health, Dr. Wen stressed the importance of managing existing medical conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. She also mentioned obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, stress, sleep, and mental well-being as factors influencing heart health that women should address.
