What are the risk factors involved in heart disease and stroke?
(source: the American Heart Association)

Increasing age
With the approach of menopause, a woman's chances of developing heart disease increase. The ageing process together with the loss of natural estrogen, may be the greatest contributor to this increased risk of heart disease after menopause.

Sex (gender)
Overall, men have a higher incidence of heart attack than women and have these attacks earlier on in life. The incidence and prevalence of stroke is close to being equal for women and men. However, more than half the cases of fatal strokes are attributed to women.

Heredity (family history)
There is a higher risk amongst both sexes of developing heart disease or stroke if a close blood relative has had one. Race can also be a major contributing factor: black women have a higher risk of stroke and heart disease than white women due to the fact that they generally have a higher than average blood pressure.

Previous heart attack or stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack or "mini-stroke")
If a woman has previously had a heart attack, she has an increased risk of having a second attack or a stroke; if she has already had a stroke, then she has an increased risk of having a second stroke or a heart attack. A mini-stroke is also a risk factor and can very well predict a more serious attack.

Cigarette and/or cigar smoking
According to American statistics, women who stop smoking tobacco can eliminate the biggest and yet most preventable cause of death from heart disease or stroke. Constant exposure to secondhand smoke also increases the risks, even for nonsmokers.

High blood cholesterol
There are two types of cholesterol: LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, also called the "bad" cholesterol and HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, also called the "good" cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol raise the risk of heart disease and heart attack whereas high levels of HDL cholesterol LOWER the risk of heart disease. Therefore, it is the levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood which should be monitored. Studies have proven that low levels of HDL cholesterol appear to be a stronger risk factor for women than for men.

High blood pressure
This is THE most important risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart attack. There are certain factors which contribute to increasing the risk of women developing high blood pressure: being overweight, pregnancy, certain types of birth control pills, the onset of menopause and a family history of high blood pressure. In women aged between 65 and 74, more than half suffer from high blood pressure.

Physical inactivity
Studies have shown that, overall, heart disease is almost twice as likely to develop in inactive people as in more active people. Eating too much and not moving enough can lead to excess weight which can lead to high "bad" blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, diabetes and in an overall increase in the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.

Obesity and overweight
Excess weight at waist-level means a higher risk of developing health problems including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease and stroke.

Diabetes
Studies have proved that there is a definite correlation between women with diabetes and the occurrence of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. When a woman with diabetes is compared with a woman of the same age without diabetes, the former has from three to seven times the risk of heart disease and heart attack. She is also at much greater risk of having a stroke. The risks are increased even more in people with diabetes since they often have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and are overweight.

Menopause
With the onset of menopause comes the gradual loss of the "female" hormone estrogen. It is still not known how this hormone offers protection against heart disease but many studies suggest that this loss of estrogen as women age increases their risk of heart disease after menopause. If the onset of menopause is brought on following surgery to remove the uterus or ovaries, this risk increases sharply. It has not been scientifically proved that estrogen may protect against stroke.

Birth control pills
The early high-dose oral contraceptive pill carried a much higher risk of high disease and stroke than today's lose-dose pill does. However, women who smoke or who have high blood pressure are still considered to be at risk.

High triglyceride levels
Triglyceride is a type of fat and the most common one found in the body. A high level of triglyceride in the body often means that there are higher levels of total cholesterol and LDL, lower levels of HDL and an increased risk of diabetes. But there is no scientific proof that it is a heart disease risk factor by itself.

Excessive alcohol intake People who drink moderately i.e. for women, this is an average of one drink per day, have a lower risk of heart disease than nondrinkers! Drinking alcohol in excess can contribute to obesity, high triglycerides, cancer and other diseases and it can raise blood pressure, cause heart failure and lead to stroke. It is highly recommended that pregnant women avoid alcohol in any form.

Individual response to stress
Each and every one of us has a personal definition of stress and, as a consequence, an individual response to it. Scientific research has not yet defined if and how stress plays a role the development of heart disease. However, if a person feels under stress, he/she may develop unhealthy responses such as smoking, overeating and overdrinking.

The good news is that, by learning how to take care of yourself by focusing on your lifestyle, most of the risk factors listed above can be treated, modified or controlled. And so...

CHOOSE TO MOVE AND CHOOSE YOUR FOOD!!!!