Women warned vs cardiovascular diseases

MANILA, Philippines - Men are more prone to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) all throughout their lives. Women, on the other hand, are less likely to acquire CVDs during their reproductive years because they are protected by estrogen hormones. Women should not be complacent, though.

“For a long time, CVD was considered a man’s disease,” said Dr. Annette Borromeo, past president of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA). “Due to myths and the prevalence of women who put their well-being the least of their worries, the status of women heart health has deteriorated.”

“Heart disease is the number 1 killer of women over 25 years old, accounting for 500 deaths of women each year. One in every 2.5 women will die of heart disease and stroke,” said Dr. Ma. Belen Carisma, also a past president of PHA.

According to the PHA, women in the perimenopausal stage (20 years old and above) should see a doctor for risk assessment and may undergo the following tests: lipid profile (for cholesterol levels), FBS (for blood sugar), blood pressure monitoring, and ECG to rule out CVD.

Some of the risk factors for CVD include high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes.

To keep CVD at bay, PHA advises women to “get fit and eat healthy.”

Since physical inactivity is one of the risk factors, it’s best to keep an active lifestyle. Since the heart is still considered a muscle, it needs regular exercise to stay in shape.

The best workouts for the heart include aerobic exercises such as brisk walking, swimming, jogging or biking. Gym equipment like exercise bicycles and treadmills are also good for the heart.

Keeping a healthy diet is also advised. It’s best to stick to a low-fat diet and keep fat calories to 30 percent or less. One should also avoid saturated fat. It’s also best to eat more fish.

Women who consumed fish regularly had a 40-percent lower risk of heart disease. Eating deep-sea fish (not any type of fish) five times a week reduced heart disease risk by as much as 64 percent and overall mortality by 52 percent.

Based on treatment guidelines, eating deep-sea fish regularly is the ideal thing to do, but if this is not possible, like in people who don’t eat fish, taking fish oil supplements is the next best thing.

A recent study also showed that fish oil supplements, besides regular fish intake, is advisable for diabetic women to lower the risk of heart disease and its complications.

A study conducted in France showed that a diet rich in fish oil is beneficial but taking fish oil supplement would be easier and can ensure a stable effect on diabetic women.

Fish oil softgels would also be a more convenient option for those who don’t eat fish.

In the study, the researchers found that two months of daily fish oil supplements reduce fat deposits and markers for clogging of arteries in women with type 2 diabetes.

Omegabloc is one of the brands of omega-3 fish oil locally available in Mercury and other leading drug stores. It has been available in the country for more than 10 years. Usual recommended dose is one softgel capsule two to three times daily.

Omegabloc comes from NOW Foods in the United States, one of the top manufacturers of vitamins and food supplements worldwide. NOW Foods is represented in the Philippines by Trianon International.

Omegabloc is an over-the counter product and requires no prescription, but many doctors are now prescribing it to their patients with established heart disease or those with multiple risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol problems, obesity, and smoking.

According to Charles Cultura, Trianon national sales and marketing manager, provincial distributors are welcome. Interested parties may call 892-0723 to 24 or text 0917-8858786.