Women's Heart Health: Social Determinants

"You can die of a broken-heart, and this is also a scientififact and there are established ties between depression, mental health and heart disease."

Broken heart syndrome is also called stress-induced cardiomyopathy or "takotsubo cardiomyopathy." It can also strike even if, you are healthy.

Broken heart syndrome was first described in the 1990s by Japanese physicians who also observed that certain patients with heart-attack like symptoms had a left ventricle shaped like a fishing pot used to trap octopuses: the "takotsubo pot." You may have heard the condition described as "Takotsubo-Cardiomyopathy."

There are also far more susceptible human beings to this "Broken Heart-Syndrome" that are brought up by those events of the loss of a loved one, loss of a job, money, a divorce, a bad accident, natural disaster or even a simple surprise party; and this resulting in stress, a reaction of chest pain and a shortness of breath, although temporary, can mimic a heart attack as well, though it may rarely cause one.

Women are more likely than men to experience the sudden, intense chest pain-reaction to a surge of "stress hormones" that can be caused by an emotionally stressful event; and the broken-heart syndrome can be misdiagnosed as a heart attack, because the symptoms and test results, are also similar.

But, unlike a heart attack, there is no evidence of blocked heart arteries in broken heart syndrome.

In this syndrome, a part of your heart-temporarily enlarges and does not pump well, while the rest of your heart functions normally, or with even a more forceful contraction.

The bad news is that broken heart syndrome can lead to severe, short-term heart muscle failure and the good news is that it is also treatable; and most people do make a full recovery within weeks.

Those most common signs and symptoms include angina (chest pain), shortness of breath, arrhythmias (irregular heart beats) or cardiogenic shock and this can be fatal if not treated right away.

While men and women have those different experiences in the labor market, different responsibilities for caring for their children and families, and those aging parents, and those differences of economic realties; improving the conditions of life that shapes the health of women, and those of their families, and social net-works-that are also contributing to the "epidemic of pain" is critical.

Many systemic and environmental factors are likely at work behind, these mortality trends-including unstable and low-paying jobs, a fraying social safety net and other stressors.

When these life conditions undermine health or one's ability to make those healthy choices, we all suffer.

Although a number of studies have also suggested that people who run more than 20 miles a week, or at an average pace of 7.5 mph or faster, are more likely to have shorter life-spans than those who run slower over shorter distances have also shown some health concerns.

Many cardiologists have also conducted those studies that also suggested, that running fast and far, may also be toxic to the heart in some way.

Some other health factors such as body index, smoking habits, drinking and hypertension also were linked with those endurances of running, that reduced longevity.

The safest and best thing, that I would agree is to listen to your body and cut back if you should experience pain or excessive fatigue between those workouts.

Although some recent studies have found that the life expectancy for women have decreased in the last two decades, our health-care is far from the whole story, this life expectancy of women in the U.S. may surely slip in some regions of the world and some would agree that it's due to smoking and obesity, high blood pressure and other, a widening gulf, between the healthiest and least healthy populations, partly due to wealth.

"While so many women worry about cancer, only slightly more than half, realize that heart disease is their number one killer and more women in the United States are dying from cardiovascular causes, heart disease and stroke, than from all other forms of cancer combined."

Even when some women are having a heart attack, women are more likely to ignore when they have those symptoms and when they get to he hospital say that they have indigestion and not chest pain and this is a big mistake.

Some also experience discomfort in the neck, face, shoulder, upper back, or abdomen area, dizziness, nausea, right arm pain, shortness of breath and sweating or unusual fatigue.

Almost two thirds of women who die suddenly of a heart attack, had no prior symptoms too many doctors often do fail to take a women's risk seriously, and to treat it aggressively, or to protect and provide, adequate recommendations for prevention "some women between the ages of 29 and 45 it looks like the incidence of heart disease is rising."

Many of those risk factors of being overweight and diabetic are also rampant in especially Hispanic women born in the United States, half of whom develop diabetes by age 70.

"We are good at treating heart disease, but we are failing at prevention, the steady annual decline in heart disease deaths among women since 2000 resulted, more from better care than from prevention, and there is a particular unmet need in prevention at a younger age and the sub-set of women less likely to take those preventive behaviors.''

When some women with high levels of artery-damaging LDL, cholesterol are prescribed "statins" the treatment often provides "false reassurance" that the drugs "can compensate for poor dietary choices, and a sedentary life."

"Statin users" focusing on cholesterol levels can be distracting from the more beneficial focus on healthy life-styles, to reduce heart disease risks.

Having that positive outlook on life, laughing a lot and having that sense of humor, while also being optimistic and being well-balanced is also equivalent in that preventive value to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise.

February is a great time to celebrate love, and it can also be a reminder to make and take those healthy choices, a part of your everyday life so, do make a date with your heart.

February is American Heart Month and Valentine's Day is a great time to start taking those steps to be "Heart-Healthy."

Today cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke is still, the leading cause of death in the United States, sadly 1 in 3 women die of heart disease and stroke, often-times these women make the primary health care decisions, in about two-thirds of U.S. households.

"The Power of Love" can do many things so if you are wondering what to get your loved one for Valentine's Day this year, but, you already have that red wine and those chocolates-hidden away, think about giving that special someone "The Gift of a Healthy Start."

Wishing everyone Healthy Hearts!