Listen to Your Heart: A Woman’s Guide to Understanding and Preventing Heart Disease

While February often brings to mind romance and love, it’s also American Heart Month and a great time for women to learn more about heart disease and steps they can take to prevent it.

The expertly trained clinicians at The Healthy Woman offer primary care services in Atlanta, Lawrenceville, and Newnan, Georgia, and partner with our patients to help women develop strategies to stay as healthy as possible. This month, we discuss the No. 1 killer of women — heart disease — and the habits you can adopt now to prevent heart problems.

The seriousness of cardiovascular disease

Despite the fact that one in three women die from cardiovascular disease, only 44% realize that it’s the biggest threat to their health. This needs to change.

Atherosclerosis occurs when plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries, making them narrower and resulting in reduced blood flow. If a clot develops, it can block blood flow — which can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Cardiovascular disease encompasses other conditions as well. These include heart failure, an abnormal heart rhythm known as arrhythmia, problems with the heart valves, and stroke.

Preventing heart disease

While you can’t control some risk factors for heart disease, such as genetics, you can take control of your health in ways that effectively lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Practice healthy habits

Eat a diet full of whole foods, especially lean proteins, vegetables, and soluble fiber like oatmeal and whole-grain bread. Avoid saturated fats, added sugars, and certain prepared foods, especially those that are highly processed. Choose margarine, olive oil, and canola oil over palm oil and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Drink alcohol only in moderation.

Get active

Exercise can increase HDL cholesterol and decrease LDL cholesterol, reducing your risk of heart disease. Aim for at least 30-45 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity four to five days a week.

Stop smoking

Smoking doubles your risk of a heart attack. It can shrink coronary arteries and make it more difficult for blood to flow. It also causes the blood vessel lining to be stickier, which can lead to blood clots and stroke.

Check the scale

Carrying extra pounds can result in higher blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. It can also increase the chance for type 2 diabetes which is a risk factor for blocked arteries and a heart attack.

Lose weight if needed — even 5%-10% helps — or maintain a healthy weight if indicated. Talk with a member of our team about our weight loss treatments. 

Know your numbers

High blood pressure and high cholesterol increase your risk of heart disease or a heart attack. A blood test can reveal your total cholesterol numbers along with LDL (the "bad" cholesterol), HDL (the "good" cholesterol), and triglycerides. A simple in-office blood pressure reading can measure this number.

Partner with our care team

A provider at The Healthy Woman can order any necessary tests to help you determine your risk, go over the results so you understand them clearly, and create a personalized treatment plan aimed at preventing disease. They can also discuss family and individual medical histories and current lifestyle habits to incorporate that information into your customized care.

Whether or not you have a family history of heart disease, all women should know their numbers and practice heart-healthy habits. Listen to your heart this month: Call us at 770-809-1100 or request an appointment online today.