As a Woman, What’s My Risk Score For Developing Heart Disease?

The Lifestyle Risk Factors

• Smoking - Smoking is one of the most preventable causes of heart disease.
  • Smokers have an increased risk for ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Even regular exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk for non-smokers. Women smokers using birth control pills have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke than non-smokers who use them.
• Cholesterol - HDL/LDL Levels - Research has shown that women's cholesterol levels are higher than men's from age 55 on. Diet and exercise can help control levels.
  • High levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease, while high levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol decrease the risk of heart disease. According to studies, low levels of HDL cholesterol appear to be a stronger risk factor for women than for men.
• Blood pressure - High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack and the most important risk factor for stroke. Again diet and exercise can help lower levels.
  • Obesity, family history, pregnancy, some birth control pills and menopause increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.
• Active or Sedentary - Lack of physical activity increases the risk for heart disease.
  • Inactivity and an improper diet lead to an increase in weight, which itself is a big risk factor for developing a range of lifestyle diseases. The American Heart Association recommends accumulating at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity in a week.
• Weight / WHR- a healthy body weight is not only important for a healthy heart but also for preventing other lifestyle diseases. Obesity, especially central obesity is an important risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease.
• Diabetes / pre-diabetes- women with diabetes have a much higher risk for developing heart disease as compared to their male counterparts with diabetes. It is important for diabetic women to manage their diabetes well.
• Stress – Increasingly data is suggesting the role of environmental and psychosocial factors towards the development of heart disease. Women must learn to effectively manage stress, either by getting involved in hobbies, yoga or exercise – activities that help them de-stress.

Assess your risk score for developing Cardiovascular Disease, based on the Framingham Studies - click here

Read - The 2011 Guidelines for Prevention of Heart Disease in Women

By Poonam Vaswani
Senior Dietitian, Nutritionvista