By Nicki Di Gravina, Registered Holistic Nutritionist | September 2023
Why is heart disease different in women and how does gender play a role? Women often have different health issues and concerns than men, and experience a variety of changes across a lifespan from puberty, to pregnancy through until menopause. For instance, girls with early or late puberty timing have a greater risk of developing heart disease later in life. Pregnancy involves numerous physical, psychological and lifestyle changes all of which influence the future of a woman’s health. Healthy weight levels, breastfeeding and birth-spacing may have positive long-term impacts on their heart health. The hormonal changes that occur during menopause, as well as natural age-related changes, significantly increase women’s risk for heart disease.[1]
Menopause occurs on average at age 51 and is diagnosed one year from a woman’s last menstrual cycle, with perimenopausal symptoms lasting as long as a decade beforehand. Menopause is when a woman experiences decreasing levels of estrogen in the body. Estrogen is a hormone that plays a role in many functions in the body including blood pressure. Estrogen helps to keep blood pressure low, however the decline in levels throughout the transition into and after menopause leaves women at a higher risk to develop high blood pressure and heart disease. There are risk factors related to cardiovascular health in addition to pregnancy, age and menopause which include family history, being overweight, not being physically active, too much alcohol and sodium in the diet, stress, and other lifestyle habits. Women experience unique changes throughout life, and although there are a variety of risk factors to be aware of, there are a number of things that are within your control. Implementing lifestyle and nutritional preventative measures into your day-to-day life are effective, and supportive steps to help you stay heart healthy.
Lifestyle Prevention
Managing your health and taking active steps to maintaining healthy behaviours during and after the menopausal transition are essential for your overall well being and heart health. Focus on what’s in your control, set small and realistic goals, and consider speaking with a professional if needed.
Lifestyle preventative tips to staying heart healthy:
Nutritional Prevention:
Our relationship with food is essential to reconnecting with our bodies. It’s an empowering way to support ourselves throughout life, especially in menopause. There are a variety of ways to develop a mindful approach to nutritional prevention which include following a healthy diet and being aware of what foods to avoid and what to enjoy, as well as natural supplements.
Foods to avoid to improve and maintain healthy blood pressure, reduce inflammation and to stay heart healthy:
Foods to enjoy to maintain overall good health and reduce the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease:
Natural supplements for menopause and cardiovascular health:
Another natural way to support your blood pressure health is with bioactive marine peptides. A therapeutic dose of 1200 mg of unique bioactive marine peptides derived from cold-water shrimp shells (Pandalus borealis) has been clinically proven to help maintain a healthy blood pressure*.
*International Journal or Hypertension, Article 2345042.
Always consult your primary health care provider before making any changes to your lifestyle, nutrition, supplementation or your health management plan.
Women experience different health issues, concerns and changes across a lifespan than men, which may put them at greater risk for heart disease. The risk increases with age during the transition into menopause and after. Which is why it’s so important for women to focus on prevention, and what’s in their control by managing and maintaining supportive healthy behaviours. Actively take action by being mindful and implementing lifestyle habits such as stress management, exercise, sleep and diet. Nutritional prevention is another empowering way to support our overall health and reconnect with the body. Follow a healthy diet, bring awareness to what foods to avoid, enjoy supportive and beneficial foods, and natural supplements. Include these preventative measures into your day to day to effectively help and support yourself through menopause and stay heart healthy.
Nicki Di Gravina is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. She is also an Ayurveda practitioner and Art therapist. You can learn more at feedforlove.com and on social media under her handle @feedforlove.
Important Information
Always consult with your health care provider before making changes to your blood pressure management plan. PreCardix® does not treat, cure or prevent medical conditions. Measure and monitor blood pressure regularly. Know the signs of heart attack and stroke. Do not take PreCardix® if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have renal artery stenosis, history of angioneurotic edema or shellfish allergy.
References