Page 54 - Healthy (March - April 2020)

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afect your risk, so we should be concerned about this whole
cocktail of risk factors, not just cholesterol.
If you think you’re having a heart attack, call 999 straight
away. Many women feel they should be invincible, pushing
through their symptoms or hoping they’ll go away, but this is
the worst thing to do. Taking action as soon as possible could
help stop you becoming an unnecessary statistic.

STEPS TO PREVENTION
You may not be able to prevent misdiagnosis, but lifestyle
changes can reduce or eliminate common risk factors.
STOP SMOKING Women who smoke have three times the
risk of heart attack compared with women who have never
lit up, while men have only twice the risk.
CUT DOWN THE CAVA/WINE/GIN Excess alcohol can
raise your cholesterol, as well as increasing your chances
of developing other conditions that make high cholesterol
more likely, such as weight gain and high blood pressure.
EAT LIKE A MEDITERRANEAN A 2016 study
found that people following a Mediterranean- BEING MORE PHYSICALLY
style diet – plenty of fresh ish, fruit and veg, ACTIVE REDUCES YOUR
nuts and olive oil – were less likely to
experience heart attack or stroke. RISK OF HEART AND
BE MINDFUL AFTER MENOPAUSE
Oestrogen helps protect women’s hearts from CIRCULATORY DISEASES
CHD. Post-menopause, the body produces less BY 35 PER CENT
of this hormone, so it’s important to identify
and manage your risk factors, such as diet or drinking.
TAKE OMEGA-3S These fatty acids help maintain healthy
cholesterol levels and healthy heart function. Most of us get
enough from eating a balanced diet, but if you’re vegetarian
or vegan (so don’t eat ish), you may need more.
KEEP UP THE KEEP FIT Being more physically active SPOT THE SIGNS
reduces your risk of heart and circulatory diseases by 35 per Common heart attack symptoms:
cent. Exercise lowers your blood pressure and cholesterol, l chest pain, including tightness
and helps keep your weight down.
l pain down your left arm, both arms,
or in your jaw, neck, back, or stomach
CASE STUDY l feeling sweaty or light-headed
l getting short of breath
“I thought stress was causing my symptoms”
Simone Telford, 46, from Crewe, experienced a major Tips compiled with help from the British Heart Foundation. See bhf.org.uk/women for more. Compiled by Rosalind Ryan. Photographs Stocksy
heart attack after initially being told her symptoms were
down to asthma and stress

‘Six years ago, I came back from Australia with a lingering chest infection. My GP sent me for
tests and I was diagnosed with asthma. Later, I started getting out of breath and noticed tingles down my
right arm. My GP ran a 24-hour blood pressure check, which didn’t reveal anything serious. I left work in
January 2016 and returned to Australia for a holiday. At first my symptoms eased off, but the breathing
troubles and tingling returned, and I felt a pressure on my chest while lying down. The next day, I couldn’t
breathe properly, and felt like I was in labour! My sister took me to A&E, where I asked a nurse if I was having
a heart attack. She said yes, a big one. Three of my four main arteries were blocked and I needed bypass
surgery. The team said I’d probably had angina for years, but due to my age and the fact that my symptoms
could be otherwise explained, heart disease was never picked up. My GP at home was amazed – I probably
didn’t complain enough. I want all women with similar symptoms to get themselves checked out.’

54 healthy-magazine.co.uk