Are you taking necessary steps to protect your heart?
Heart disease has long been seen as a male problem, but recent figures show that it affects men and women equally.
Heart disease kills one in three men and one in three women costing the UK £2 billion a year. Despite these statistics, a survey commissioned to mark the launch of new food supplement MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil reveals there is a lot more women can do to look after their heart health.
The survey revealed that while 7 in 10 women know at least one person who has suffered from a heart related illness, two thirds of women said they didn’t or don’t expect to give their heart health a thought until they’ve passed the ripe age of 50 and a further 15% don’t expect to worry about heart health at all.
Dr Ellie Cannon, independent GP:
“Women shouldn’t wait until they display symptoms of poor heart health but rather should be introducing small changes now to their diet and lifestyle to help them optimise their health and wellbeing. Being proactive and adopting a positive attitude to exercise, following a heart healthy diet rich in essential vitamins and nutrients like omega-3, and introducing a good quality food supplement can all make a difference to their future. I would also recommend that couples take the time to think about and look after one another’s heart health, as well as their own”
The gender gap
The statistics revealed further interesting differences between the genders, in both attitudes and actions to health. Whilst most people say they are honest about how healthy their own lifestyle is, a revealing 42% of women and 48% of men believe that their partner lies about their habits. To see how your heart health really compares with your other half, visit MegaRed’s Mr and Mrs heart health calculator at www.mr-mrs-challenge.com.
Christine Bailey, nutritionist:
“Incorporating heart friendly food into your diet needn’t be a chore. There is such an exciting variety of food proven to maintain a healthy heart you’ll be spoiled for choice! Anyone keen to make the right dietary changes for long term health should be aiming to increase their oily fish intake, eat more anti-inflammatory foods such as turmeric, berries and green tea; focus on healthier fats found in olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocado rather than processed foods which can be high in saturated fats and trans fats; and enjoy antioxidant rich food such as broccoli, pomegranate and garlic. It is also important to reduce the amount of salt and sugar you consume.
“Anyone concerned that their diet is not providing a sufficient intake of omega-3, vital for heart health, could benefit from taking a supplement. Research has shown that krill oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acid and also contains antioxidants which help protect our arteries from damage, as well as phospholipids which are vital to the health of our cells.
The new data also reveal that whilst men are exhibiting some similar negative lifestyle habits as women, they are taking more proactive steps to monitor their heart health with more men meeting their GP for regular heart check-ups than women.
Almost a third of women and equally a third of men are struggling to raise their heart rate for even 30 minutes once a week. Almost 2 in 5 women against only 7% of men said that housework was their most active task and a quarter of men versus 17% of women judged sex was part of their exercise regime.
James Daly, fitness advisor:
“There are lots of different ways to be active. I always advise people to start with lower intensity movement in order to grasp the basics; they can then progress comfortably from there. The key is to keep moving, increase your heart rate, and focus your attention on manageable and sustainable exercise. I also encourage thinking outside the box. If you want to become more active you don't need to join a gym. Take the stairs, rather than the lift. Park a bit further away from the supermarket entrance and carry your bags back to the car. Go for a Sunday walk instead of a drive. By simply moving more and being conscious of what you are doing, you can increase your heart rate. Unfortunately stress and anxiety can also increase your heart rate whilst having a negative impact on your health, so focus your attention on raising your heart rate the healthy way by being proactive and moving more.”
Tagged in Heart Health Healthy Body Healthy Heart Heart Health