Share:

Heart-related complications are a leading cause of disability and death, which is why it’s crucial to understand how your lifestyle affects your heart health. There are a number of risk factors, and it’s important for women to be mindful of those they’re susceptible to. Below are common mistakes many women make and how you can avoid them.

Common Heart Health Mistakes

1. Not Getting Screened for Heart Health Issues

Feeling healthy doesn’t mean you are. Some women avoid heart health screenings because they feel good; others do it because of anxiety. It’s imperative to get screened for high blood pressure and other heart disease-related complications, as many don’t present side effects until cardiac arrest occurs. Women also face some unique risks. For example, women with diabetes are more likely to experience heart disease than diabetic men.

2. Yo-Yo Dieting

heart-health-divagno-interventional-cardiology-md-paMany women diet, lose weight briefly, and then gain it back after they discontinue the diet. This is known as “yo-yo” dieting and can be a reoccurring theme as women try different diets over the years. Diet has a significant impact on heart health because it affects blood pressure, weight, and obesity-related issues. Yo-yo dieting hurts cardiovascular health, especially for older women, which is why it’s better to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet.

3. Thinking Pregnancy-Related Heart Issues End After Delivery

If you experience signs of heart health complications related to pregnancy, the problem may not subside after delivery. Gestational diabetes, blood pressure disorders, gestational preeclampsia, and other issues will still affect you and need to be addressed, especially later in life. Work with a cardiologist following pregnancy to resolve any issues and to prevent others you may be at risk of.

 

It’s never too early to address heart health, and the team at DiVagno Interventional Cardiology, MD, PA, can assist. Based in Rochelle Park, NJ, this cardiology practice, led by Dr. Leonard DiVagno, offers comprehensive heart care and can address artery disease, high blood pressure, heart attack, and more. Call (201) 845-3535 to schedule a screening. You can learn more about the practice online and connect on Facebook for news and updates.

tracking