With the emphasis on diseases related to cancer, especially breast cancer, it is intriguing to note that the largest cause of death among women in the United States today is cardiovascular disease. Although this statistic will raise well-threaded eyebrows everywhere, the good news is that all is not lost, as the secret to preventing heart disease rests solely in taking care of your health on a daily basis.
Dr. Karla Kurrelmeyer, a cardiologist at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center in Houston, considers female heart health close to her ‘heart’ as she is also subjected to the same health risks as her patients are, being a woman herself.
So, here are a few of her tips that can prevent strokes and heart disease in women:
Tip #1: Check for cholesterol, especially if there is a family history with cardiovascular disease and stroke. Abnormal readings can be early warning signals that can be corrected by making suitable lifestyle changes and treated with medication well before disaster strikes.
Tip #2: Every woman should do her best to stay as fit as possible by incorporating exercises that they enjoy into their daily routine.
Tip #2: The Mediterranean diet, high in fish and fresh vegetables as well as low in processed carbohydrates, is the ideal diet to follow.
In addition to these tips, the doctor has also designed clinical trials to research new treatments and diagnostic tools in heart care for women, so that her patients can take advantage of her research in order to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in their lives.