Omega 3 can help prevent heart disease

Posted by catzilla

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, even outpacing cancer. Men may have more heart attacks than women, but women are most likely to die from their heart attacks. The signs and symptoms of a heart attack for men also differ than those for a woman.

While men feel a crushing pain in their chest, women more often feel sensations that are not as obvious. So it’s even more important for women to recognize the signs and symptoms of heart attack.

Signs and Symptoms

• Chest discomfort including a burning sensation in the chest that may be mistaken for heartburn.
• Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arm
• An unusual feeling or mild discomfort in the back of the chest, arm, neck, or jaw
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or dizziness
• Sweating, indigestion or gas-like pain
• Unexplained weakness or fatigue and an overall feeling of illness
• Discomfort or pain between shoulder blades

It is important to seek help if you have these symptoms.

But before the signs and. symptoms hit, it is important as women to take the necessary steps to prevent a heart attack from happening.

Consider adopting these lifestyle tips to live a heart healthy life:

Exercise

Lack of exercise is a proven risk factor for heart disease. Heart disease is twice as likely to develop in inactive people as in those who are more active.

Physically active women have a 60 percent to 75 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease than inactive women. Physical activity helps maintain weight, blood pressure, and diabetes, all risk factors for heart disease.

A woman should exercise at her target heart rate for 20 to 30 minutes a day, five times per week. One of the easiest ways to begin exercising is walking. So walk whenever you can!

Follow a Heart Healthy Diet

Make sure to eat plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables and whole grains every day. Try olive oil - it’s a healthy source of fat calories. Avoid transfats. They’re commonly found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Fish contain Omega 3 fatty acids. Our bodies do not produce Omega 3s, they can only be obtained from food. Great sources include albacore tuna, salmon, trout, and anchovies. Fiber helps block the body from absorbing fat and cholesterol from food. Oatmeal is a quick and easy source.

Get Help to Quit Smoking!

Smoking causes 150 percent more deaths from heart disease than lung cancer in women. Women who smoke are up to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack. And smoking increases the risk of stroke.

Share This

Tags: heart disease, omega 3

Under Health and Wellness Tags: heart disease, omega 3