Partnering with your OB/GYN to have a healthier heart

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., yet prevention and treatment for women are still less aggressive than for men. At Goshen Physicians OB/GYN, we aim to change this by emphasizing the importance of heart health in women's healthcare.

What you can do to protect your heart:

• Quit smoking. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of coronary artery disease in women, causing over 60% of heart attacks in women under age 50. The good news is that quitting smoking allows your heart and vascular system to heal, greatly reducing your risk of a heart attack over time.
• Exercise regularly. Thirty to 45 minutes of walking three times a week reduces your risk of a heart attack by half – even in older women.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight puts you at a higher risk for developing heart and vascular disease, as well as diabetes and certain cancers. In addition to exercise, it’s important to eat nutritious foods, including lots of vegetables, fruit and whole grains.
• Manage diabetes well. Having diabetes increases the risk of heart and vascular disease. If you’re exercising, eating carefully, managing your stress – and still having trouble keeping your blood sugar within your healthy range, talk to your primary care doctor.
• Address issues of stress or depression. Stress, anger and depression have a demonstrated effect on our heart health – but so do relaxation, joy and laughter. If you are struggling, reach out to someone – a counselor, friend, family member or doctor.
• Know the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. Receiving timely emergency care is critical since women are at higher risk of dying from their first heart attack and are more likely to have a long-term disability. Be sure that you and everyone in your household know the signs of a heart attack and stroke and to call 9-1-1 if they see the signs.
• Schedule routine appointments. Be sure that you are scheduling routine visits with your OB/GYN to discuss preventive care that could impact your heart health.

The bottom line is self-care matters. Taking care of yourself reduces your risk of heart and vascular disease – while also helping you feel more energetic and more vibrant.

What we can do to support you

In addition to providing support for your self-care, we at Goshen Physicians OB/GYN can help in the following ways:

• Regular screenings and monitoring. Monitoring your body mass index, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol can help us work with you to address lifestyle or medication changes proactively. We also want to know any recent family diagnoses, to help us better understand your risk.
• Identifying risk factors. Understanding and knowing risk factors that are unique to women, such as complications during pregnancy (for example, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes) and menopause can help you and your doctor look for early signs of heart disease.
• Medication evaluation. Women are less likely to be on aspirin or a lipid-lowering medication than men, yet they can be just as beneficial for some women. We can help evaluate whether you’d benefit from aspirin or other preventive medication.
• Finally, if you do survive a heart attack, do everything you can to prevent another one. This includes participating in cardiac rehabilitation, taking prescribed medication and making recommended lifestyle changes. Fewer women than men complete cardiac rehabilitation, which has been proven to significantly reduce the risk of another heart attack.

Reducing the number of deaths in women related to heart disease requires a strong partnership between women and their healthcare providers. At Goshen Physicians OB/GYN, we encourage women to find inspiration for their health journeys in the faces of their loved ones – who give all of us, when we stop and reflect, the motivation to live longer, healthier lives.

We can help

You are always at the center of care with our OB/GYN team. That means you are fully involved in choosing the right treatment plan for you. It’s how we make sure you get treatment that fits your individual concerns, preferences and values. Call (574) 533-0560 to schedule an appointment.