Did you know that you could be making health mistakes daily without knowing it? Now that you are over the age of 50, this decade brings new special health challenges. Here is one of the most common health mistakes that women do.
Many women in their 50’s make a big mistake by ignoring their heart health. We all know that we are expected to be tested or screened for some conditions as we age, and we know the importance of a healthy diet. But did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women and the risk only rises with age? Unfortunately, it’s not necessarily something that you are doing right now that is causing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Remember when you were in your 20’s and you thought smoking was cool? Or that you didn’t have to work out due to your high metabolism level allowing you to eat that cheeseburger with onion rings without gaining an ounce? These choices all start to take a toll on your heart health after turning 50.
On September 25, 2015, the CDC released an announcement that CVD, including heart disease and stroke, were the leading cause of death in the world. Shocked? Don’t be. CVD can be attributed to the sedentary lifestyle that most Americans live, but we can fix that. We can reduce our risk for heart disease by making environmental and lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, increasing physical activity, and eating healthy, low-fat and low-sodium foods, such as fruits, veggies, and lean meats.
The report also went on to say that 3 out of 4 U.S. adults have a heart “age” that is older than their chronological age. For example, this means on average women showed having hearts that are five years older than their chronological age. And if you have high blood pressure, your heart’s “age” is 18 years older than your chronological age! If you wish to learn your heart’s “age”, you can access a heart “age” calculator at: http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/cardiovasculardisease/heartage.html.
The good news is that the CDC and the American Heart Association are working diligently on ways to treat heart disease daily. And even though some damage may already be done, it’s never too late to start getting more exercise, eating healthier, losing weight or to quit smoking. Your body and heart will thank you.
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