Recent findings highlight that heart health risk factors pose a more significant threat to women than men. Women suffering from poor health face nearly five times the heart disease risk, a stark contrast to the 2.5 times increase seen in men under similar circumstances. This groundbreaking study reveals that lifestyle risks, such as diet and exercise, create a disproportionate burden on women’s heart health compared to their male counterparts.
Presented at a conference by the American College of Cardiology, this study, led by Dr. Maneesh Sud, highlights that the elevation in heart disease risk correlating with health factors is steeper in women. It explored the effects of diet, sleep, exercise, smoking, body mass index, blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure across over 175,000 participants in the Ontario Health Study, none of whom had heart disease at the start.
While women generally exhibit healthier profiles with fewer negative lifestyle factors than men, those with additional risk factors suffer greater consequences. Specifically, women classified with intermediate health (five to seven positive factors) are at 2.3 times greater risk, markedly higher than the 1.6 times increased risk for men. Thus, while women possess healthier lifelines, the stakes for heart-related issues can be perilously higher.
With elements such as diet and blood pressure being more favourable among women, understanding the disparity in health outcomes is essential. Further research is crucial to decipher the underlying reasons for these differences in heart health. The findings, although preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal, stress that women need to adopt proactive measures to safeguard their heart health.
A recent study indicates that heart health risk factors more adversely affect women compared to men. Women in poor health have almost five times the risk of heart disease, while men in poor health have only 2.5 times the risk. Key lifestyle factors examined include diet, exercise, and blood pressure. The findings suggest an urgent need for targeted heart health strategies for women.
This study underscores the necessity for heightened awareness regarding women’s heart health, particularly concerning lifestyle factors that disproportionately affect them. As the risks elevate dramatically for women possessing negative health factors, it becomes imperative to foster healthier habits and manage risk factors diligently to protect heart health effectively.
Original Source: www.gjsentinel.com
