What are the common mistakes men & women are making in keeping their heart healthy. Iron deficiency in women (Women lose around 1 mg of iron every day during their menstrual period. Hence, women need more iron than men to make up for the lost amount).
Good heart health is critical to lead a happy and active life. What does it take to maintain good heart health? The answer requires a certain amount of elaboration. Of course, eating right and exercising regularly are two key aspects of keeping the heart healthy. But there are other factors as well that play a part in keeping your heart – whether you’re a man or a woman – in good condition, or shall we say hale and hearty!
The best way to keep your heart healthy is to know what mistakes you need to avoid that adversely affect the health of your heart. Let’s take a look at mistakes men make when it comes to their heart health.
1. Hesitation to get checked
Unlike women, men are hesitant to go for health checks. This causes them to miss conditions that can lead to heart problems such as increased blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Besides, men also tend to ignore certain symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness and chest pain. Remember, by opting for early checkups, men can effectively prevent a heart condition before it goes out of hand.
2. Erectile dysfunction as a symptom
Contrary to what men tend to believe – that difficulty in getting or maintaining an erection is all about one’s mental state – impotence is caused by decreased blood flow to the reproductive organ. This could be a symptom of damaged blood vessels of the heart. Erectile dysfunction is no matter to be embarrassed. Seeking medical intervention on time can benefit your heart and overall health immensely.
3. Too young to get a heart attack
A prevalent myth among most men is that heart attack is for older men – those in their 60s onwards. Owing to drastic lifestyle changes, cases are reported of men getting heart attacks in their 30s or even 20s. Also, studies suggest that men are likely to get coronary heart disease 10 years before women do. Getting their hearts checked, no matter what their age, is crucial for men in ensuring good heart health.
Just like men, there are many mistakes women commit when it comes to their heart, let’s take a look at a few of them.
1. Iron deficiency
The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in patients with heart problems is more than 50%. While the statistics apply to both men and women, a key indicator is the amount of iron women lose during menstruation – 1 mg. each day. However, by seeing a physician, adhering to proper diet and taking iron supplements as prescribed by the doctor, the condition can be treated and cured.
2. It’s a guy thing
There are women who hold the notion that heart problems affect men and not them. While they are highly aware of conditions such as breast or ovarian cancer, they tend to overlook heart problems. This is utterly wrong. By regularly checking their blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure women can keep their heart healthy and their life active.
3. Misreading the symptoms
Symptoms of a possible heart attack or deteriorating heart health vary from men to women. As a result of women often ignore symptoms that are not traditionally associated with a heart condition. However, as per experts, women should consult a doctor if they have nausea, stomach pain, difficulty in breathing or anything else which bothers them.
Remember, with a healthy heart, you can lead a happy and active life. Taking good care of your heart is not a difficult task. By doing exercise regularly, eating right, finding ways to de-stress yourself, and opting to check your health, especially heart health, you can make sure that your heart remains in good health.
Dr. Rajendra NS, Consultant Cardiology, Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Mysore