New Delhi: While men are more prone to heart disease than women, health experts said on Sunday that heart problems are becoming more common among young and premenopausal women in the country.
World Heart Day is commemorated annually on 29 September to raise awareness about India’s main cause of mortality. This year’s theme is ‘Use Heart for Action’. According to the ‘Global Burden of Disease Study’, heart disease is the main cause of mortality among Indian women, accounting for more than 17 percent of deaths.
“Women are generally protected till menopause. However, we are oftentimes nowadays, finding a lot of young women who are premenopausal, having heart attack, heart disease and various other heart problems,” Dr S Ramakrishnan, professor in the cardiology department at AIIMS-New Delhi, told IANS.
The high incidence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia causes the higher risk. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is also a major worry for women, increasing their risk of heart disease.
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PCOS is a highly widespread health problem among women today. It is defined by weight increase, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes to diabetic states, and an excess of androgens.
According to Dr. Arati Adhe Rojekar, Consultant Gynaecologist at P.D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Mahim, PCOS significantly influences blood vessels and the heart.
“Obesity itself contributes to cardiac conditions by elevating bad cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the body. Insulin resistance and excess androgens too elevate the cardiac risks,” she added.
A recent study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology showed up to 51 percent increased risk for CVD in women.
Dr Sarita Rao, Sr. Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, told IANS women with PCOS, close to one in five in India, might suffer from metabolic syndrome (MeTS), a group of conditions like diabetes, abdominal obesity and insulin resistance, that could impact cardiovascular health.
The experts called for routine heart health checks to enable early diagnosis.
Women with PCOS should ensure they remain physically active and maintain a healthy diet so that they do not develop other lifestyle diseases, the experts said.
According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the prevalence of coronary artery diseases in women ranges from three to 13 percent. The study also states that the disease has increased by over 300 percent in the past 20 years.
Air pollution is another significant contributor to rising heart diseases. According to Dr Ramakrishnan, there are good studies that have documented more chances of heart attacks when the pollution levels are very high.
“Air pollution is emerging like smoking as one of the highest risk factors,” he added, suggesting people to start moderate aerobic exercises at least five days a week.
(Photo:snapsIndia IANS)
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