WASHINGTON — One of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones this month is the gift of good heart health.
If you’re a 20-something African American woman, you may think you’re too young to worry about heart health. Cardiologist Dr. Vikram Raya, of Doctors Community Hospital, says think again.
“I think at age 25 and above, we need to start saying, ‘hey, look — I’m moving onto a different phase of my life, I need to know about my health,’” Raya says.
That means getting screened, looking at your cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
Also, signs of a heart attack or stroke may be different for a woman from those for a man.
“Men — we all know the symptoms. The classic substernal chest pain, the elephant on the chest, the radiating to the arms …. Women, they actually present a little differently. They have shortness of breath, they have pain — instead of in the chest, it’s a little lower in the abdomen. They get sometimes dizzy, they feel like impending doom or some very high anxiety level,” Raya says.
Raya says women sometimes write off those symptoms as the flu or menopause, and don’t realize it could be a heart attack.
Additionally, if your waist size is bigger than 35 inches, you could be putting yourself at a higher risk for heart disease. Raya explains that there are two types of belly fat.
“You can be more apple-looking, or more pear-looking,” he explains. “And if you’re more apple-looking, you’re at much higher risk.”
Raya says central visceral belly fat secretes dangerous enzymes and chemical messengers, leading to increased inflammation.
Lifestyle changes can greatly improve your heart health.
If you’re seeking a diet that’s healthy and has variety, Raya says you may want to consider a Mediterranean diet.
“It’s very flexible, it’s very realistic to follow,” he explains. “You’re not restricted to just plants, or just meat … It’s a very diverse diet, tons of vegetables, tons of fruits.”
Physical activity is also crucial to heart health. Raya recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise.
