Heart Health
Disease of the
heart or blood vessels
(veins or arteries) is called cardiovascular disease or
heart disease. This is the number one killer of
women. But women are not always aware of how much this
disease can threaten
their lives. Studies have shown that women worry more about breast cancer than
heart disease. Yet, one in two women will die from
heart disease, while one in 27 women will die from breast cancer. It is our goal in this web page to explain risk factors you may have as a woman with a disability and address ways you can change your lifestyle to reduce your risk. You may have some factors present in your life as a woman with a disability that increase your risk. There are health promotion activities that may reduce your risks for certain diseases like hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease (disease of the arteries and veins in the legs).
[Risk
Factors] There are heart disease risk factors that cannot be changed, such as genetics and age, and those that can be changed or modified, such as lifestyle. The following are risk factors that can be changed to lower your risk for heart disease. [Table of Contents | Top] Smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. Cigarettes contain nicotine, which constricts blood vessels. This results in a lower blood and oxygen flow to vital organs. It also causes an increased pressure within the blood vessels that can lead to diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). All of these factors can lead to heart disease. Consider the following:
These are strong reasons to stop smoking, but how to stop is up to you. The following are some possible ways to stop:
Check with your health care provider to discuss which method is best for you. [Table of Contents | Top] Excess weight may be a problem if you are not able to exercise. Being overweight and eating a diet high in fat can lead to heart disease. As you try to juggle your symptoms and the many roles as a woman with a disability, fast food may often be the quick meal choice. But many fast foods are high in calories and fat. Animal products (meat and dairy) and fried foods are high in fat. There are also "hidden" sources of fat found in foods like salad dressings and mayonnaise. Therefore, a specialty burger at any fast food chain contains fat in the form of meat, cheese, and dressing. The fat content goes up even higher when you add french fries as part of a value meal. The good news is that the food industry is always coming up with new types of low fat foods. Here are some ways you can lower the amount of fat in your diet:
All of these actions will help you stay at your ideal weight and lower your risk for heart disease. [Table of Contents | Top]
Reducing fat intake is one of the best ways to control your blood cholesterol levels. Having high cholesterol is a known risk for heart disease. Cholesterol enters your bloodstream through the digestion of foods high in fat and through the action of the liver. The liver both makes cholesterol and gets rid of it. The goal is to keep total cholesterol levels at or below 200 mg/dl. Cholesterol levels should be checked every 1 to 2 years in healthy adults and more often if you have high cholesterol or heart disease. There are two types of cholesterol:
If you have a problem with cholesterol, there are medicines you can use along with changes in your diet. These medicines are called "statins". They must be prescribed by a health care provider. But even though many people could be helped by these medicines, only a small number are taking them. So talk to your doctor or nurse about whether these medicines are right for you. [Table of Contents | Top]
As a woman with a disability, you may have more stress in your life as you juggle your symptoms and manage the many roles in your life. The relation between stress, emotions and heart disease is hard to study because the effects cannot be described in terms of specific numbers. What is known is that in the presence of stress:
The goal is for you to know what situations will be stressful before they occur so you can find ways to cope with them. Sometimes you can plan ahead so you will feel less anxious when an event actually occurs. Ask other members of your family to help with the work load. This may help lower your own stress. There is also the need to find ways to lower your stress response when it occurs. Deep breathing or closing your eyes for a few minutes can lower stress. If stress is a problem for you, learning relaxation techniques may help you to cope. In any case, finding ways to make your life simpler and decreasing your stress can help to lower your risk for heart disease related to stress. To learn more,
click on [Table of Contents | Top]
Physical inactivity is a common problem for women with disabilities. You have a higher risk of heart disease if you are not physically active. The risk is similar to having high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or smoking cigarettes. Physical inactivity is also linked with a higher risk for high blood pressure. If you are unable to perform vigorous physical activity, any type of exercise can help maintain muscle tone and thus promote circulation. Simple range of motion exercises help to promote muscle tone. If you are not able to follow a regular exercise program, it is important to lower other risk factors such as a high fat diet, excess weight, high cholesterol, smoking and stress. The reason it is important for you to lower these risk factors is that it is usually several risk factors together that increase your risk for heart disease. For more information about high blood pressure,
click on: [Table of Contents | Top] Here are some important facts for women with disabilities who are taking steroids, are menopausal, or have diabetes or limited mobility. Many women with disabilities take steroids such as Prednisone. A side effect of steroids is that your body retains sodium (salt) and water. This means the additional water raises the volume of blood in your body. The heart must pump this larger volume of blood throughout your body. After a while, your heart may not be able to pump as well and fluid collects in places like your ankles and lungs. Fluid in the lungs can lead to breathing problems. If you are taking steroids regularly, it is best to lower the amount of salt in your diet. Avoid using salt at the table or eating salty foods. Steroids may increase your appetite. In order to avoid weight gain, try to eat foods that are low in fat and calories, but high in nutrition, such as skim milk, fresh fruits and vegetables. [Table of Contents | Top] Until recently, it was thought that hormone therapy or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) would help delay or prevent heart problems. Recent studies have shown that hormone therapy does not lower the risk of heart disease. It may actually increase this risk in some women. It is important for you to talk to your doctor or nurse so that together you can decide if hormone therapy is right for you. For more information, click here to go to our page about menopause. [Table of Contents | Top] People who have diabetes have a higher rate of heart disease. Therefore, in addition to trying to manage blood glucose it is important to try to lower other risk factors linked to heart disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, excess weight, excess stress, smoking and physical inactivity. Sometimes having one chronic illness such as diabetes, in addition to having a chronic disability, means that little attention is paid to other potential health problems. It is important for you to have your blood pressure checked often, know your cholesterol level, and have a general cardiovascular assessment. Talk to your health care provider about your interest in ways to lower your risk for heart disease. [Table of Contents | Top]
Women who cannot move easily and tend to stay in one position for long periods of time have a higher risk of getting clots in the blood vessels of their extremities, especially the legs. These actions may help to prevent clots:
Some people who are at risk for getting clots can take medicine to prevent clots from forming. (You would need to talk to your doctor or nurse since this is a prescription medication.) The following are signs and symptoms of a blood clot:
[Table of Contents | Top] American Heart Association (1998). 1999 Heart and stroke statistical update. Dallas, Texas: American Heart Association. Other web links: [Table of Contents] | [Top] 07/31/2003 11:09 AM |
If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, it is very
important that you contact your health care provider quickly so testing can be