Prevention is the major priority and the preventative strategies need to start at an early age when lifestyle habits and healthy behaviors can be reinforced. The focus is on anti-smoking, a healthy diet and a physically active lifestyle. It is never too late to reduce the risk of CHD.
A. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)Available data suggests that HRT may offer long term protection against CHD in Healthy women only. In older, poorly mobile women with significant CHD, the clotting effects of HRT may outweigh and long term benefits.
B. Lipid Lowering DrugsAn elevated total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio is a major risk factor for CHD in women as well as men. Women respond well to lipid lowering strategies (which include a lower fat diet and regular moderate exercise). In fact, despite that fact that women generally have a poorer prognosis following a heart attack or in response to interventions such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), women appear to have a response to intensive lipid-lowering therapy which is as good as or better than that of men. C. Stopping Smoking
C. Stopping Smoking
Smoking has been shown to increase CHD 2-3 fold in women. There must be a greater effort to discourage young women from starting smoking and to encourage other women who do smoke to stop.
Effects of Smoking on CHD Risk in Women | |
Smoking # Cigarettes/Day |
CHD Risk |
4 |
2 x Increase |
5-14 |
3 x increase |
> 35 |
7 x increase |
Willett, W.C. et al. NEJM, 1987. |
D. Diet
A low fat, high fibre diet contributes to an overall improvement in blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels, and aids in weight loss, and the ability to sustain a regular exercise program. Dietary supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B12 and Vitamin B6, or with folate alone, can lower elevated levels of homocysteine (a suspected CHD risk factor). Excessive alcohol and sugar intake can contribute to elevated triglycerides, hypertension, and obesity. Hence moderation, and in some cases abstinence, is required.
E. ExerciseThe benefits of regular physical activity are numerous:
Strengthens the heart muscle
Improves cardiovascular fitness
Improves blood flow
Reduces blood pressure and blood lipids
Helps with blood glucose control
Helps with weight management
Physical activity goals consist of:
Endurance activities 4 – 7 days a week.
These are continuous activities for your heart, lungs, and circulatory system and include walking, swimming, cycling, jogging, racquet sports and team sports.
Flexibility exercises 4 – 7 days a week.
Gentle stretching, bending, and reaching activities to keep your muscles relaxed and joints mobile.
Strength exercises 2 – 4 days a week.
These are activities against resistance to strengthen muscles and bones and improve posture. Stress Reduction The lack of social support, depression, low socioeconomic status, and stress have all been linked with increased incidence of CHD. All of these factors have been associated with a low chance of adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors and poor adherence to medical car.
Please note that this information is intended to provide general information on common nutritional/medical topics. It is not a comprehensive medical review and does not include all the potential medical conditions, issues, or considerations. Therefore it cannot and should not be relied upon as a substitute for seeing an appropriate health care professional (who can provide individualized and comprehensive assessment and advice).