"Women are less likely to have a heart attack than men"

"Women are less likely to have a heart attack than men"

Men are more likely to have a heart attack and die from it. Experts say that heart disease can appear only after 10 years in women compared to men.

Is it really less likely to have a heart attack in women? Why is heart rate less in women than in men? What kind of woman is likely to have a heart attack? In this regard, Om Hospital's senior cardiologist Dr. Edited excerpt of online journalist Manisha Thapa's conversation with Kamal Sharma Lamsal:

Do you hear that only men die from heart attacks or have heart attacks? Are the chances of heart attack very low for women?

The risk of heart attack in women is less than that of men. This does not mean that women do not have heart attacks. Statistics show that men are twice as likely to have a heart attack as women. Things like cigarettes and alcohol, which are considered dangerous for the heart, are consumed more by men than by women. Another reason is that between the ages of 45 and 50, the level of the hormone estrogen is higher in women, which makes heart attacks less common in women. That is why the risk of heart attack is higher in men when they are young and in women when they are older.

What effect does estrogen have on the heart that reduces the risk of heart attack?

Estrogen is considered a good hormone for the heart. As long as its level is high, the risk of heart disease is low. Estrogen promotes healthy blood vessel function as well as beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system.

Estrogen levels decrease in men, while estrogen levels increase and progesterone levels decrease in women before menopause. After menopause, there is a difference in the levels of both. Estrogen decreases and progesterone increases. Because of this, the risk of heart disease also increases as women age. And, after 60 years, women and men have the same risk of heart attack.

What kind of woman is likely to have a heart attack?

Women with chronic diseases that can affect the heart, such as uncontrolled diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, may be at risk of a heart attack. Likewise, lack of physical exercise, smoking and tobacco consumption, excessive alcohol consumption, and obesity are also considered to be equally risky.

Various studies have shown that men and women drink alcohol and smoke at the same rate, but in comparison, women may have a dangerous heart attack risk. Not only that, more women die from heart attacks than men.

What are the signs of a heart attack in women?

The main symptoms are pain in the middle of the chest, heaviness as if the chest is pressed by something heavy, excessive sweating, difficulty in breathing, increased heart rate, the pain moves to the left arm through the left hand, and can also reach the left part of the neck and the chin. Some may have a heart attack without pain. It is also called 'silent heart attack'.

What can be done in the event of a heart attack?

Since the risk of heart attack is higher in people with chronic diseases, caution should be taken as it may happen at any time. For that, you should keep medicine called 'aspirin', 'disprin' or 'clopidorial' at home and with you. Knowing the signs of a heart attack, taking this medicine is somewhat less risky. After that, they should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible. Similarly, if possible, the patient should be kept on oxygen until the ambulance arrives.

If you can be taken to the hospital immediately, you can immediately diagnose the heart attack and start the treatment process. The sooner the treatment process is started, the more likely it is to reduce the risk of patient survival or death.

How can it be treated?

After reaching the hospital and doing some emergency tests, medicines like aspirin are given first. Then what kind of heart attack is it and how far has it affected. Treatment is done accordingly. Someone has to be given complete rest and given medicine in ICU and CCU.

Can a heart attack occur only with heart disease or can it happen to people who do not have heart disease?

Not only those who have heart problems and those who have already had heart attacks, but there are also cases of heart attacks even without heart problems. But its risk is high when the chronic disease is uncontrolled and the age increases.

What are the preventive measures?

If someone in the family already has heart disease or heart attack, all members should get a heart test after reaching the age of 30. Exercise regularly, reduce salt intake, avoid alcohol and smoking, control diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and take medication regularly. Body weight should be controlled and regular health check-ups should be done in case of heart disease.