Unfortunately, cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality. One of the main reasons for that, I believe, is for just under recognition of symptoms, not knowing as far as what to watch out for, what is concerning, when to seek care. We have found that women can present with atypical and uncommon symptoms. Of course, the common heart attack symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath might be the same in male and females. But one of the main things is to know that some certain symptoms such as just a simple shortness of breath or simple fatigue or nausea, that itself can be a sign of, be a trigger or a red flag that a cardiovascular event might happen.
There are certain risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, family history of coronary heart disease. These women certainly need to seek medical care, appointments with their primary care physicians, and seeing a cardiologist specialist to further discuss the risks of developing heart disease. If there is smoking, definitely seeking out resources to help with smoking cessation. If there is hypertension, there should be a good followup with physicians to get that high blood pressure under control. If there is certain conditions like sleep apnea, those have to be treated. Diabetes, same thing.
In regards to overall lifestyle and specifically diet, for a better heart health, we’ll call it, I certainly would recommend less greasy foods, less fast foods. Anything that you can get in the drive-through, probably not too good for you. Focusing more so on whether it’s seafood or proteins such as chicken or so, veggies, vegetables or so, is certainly the general recommendation.
In regards to the other aspects of lifestyle such as physical activity, at least having 30 minutes a day of whether it’s just a walking totaling up to 150 minutes a week is the general recommendation.
What I love the most about taking care of patients is being able to make that impact in someone’s life, being able to answer that question that has been bothering them and not giving them sleep at night kind of thing. Once general health has some kind of issue, like some kind of disease or symptom comes around, we’re all humans and we can feel vulnerable. For me to be able to be there for the patient and provide that continuity of care is certainly a blessing that I’m grateful for.
Dr. Siddiqui & Rosalyn – Aortic Stenosis