HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN

By Joseph Hazan,M.D.,FACOG

There are several contributing

factors and health issues

contributing to the alarmingly

increased rate

of heart disease in women.

Chief among these is the

increased rate of metabolic

syndrome which is directly

related to the obesity

epidemic.

WHAT IS METABOLIC SYNDROME?

This consists of three or more of

the following:

1) Waist circumference of over

88 inches

2) Blood pressure of 130 mm Hg

or higher systolic

or 85 mm Hg diastolic.

3) HDL cholesterol of less than

50 mg/dL

4) Triglycerides over 150 mg/dL

5) Fasting plasma glucose of

over 100 mg/dL

WHY IS METABOLIC SYNDROME SO BAD?

This is due to the incresed risk to the

cardiovascular system.

Patients with essential high blood

pressure have CRP

(C-reactive protein) levels that are high.

CRP, other factors such as

TNF alpha and interleukin-6 are

elevated.

These are significant in the development

of heart disease.

All of the above risk factors respond

to diet and lifestyle

changes.

RELATED HEALTH ISSUES

1) Sleep disorders

2)Stress and anxiety

3) Depression

4)Vitamin D Deficiency

5)Rheumatoid arthritis

6) Tobacco, alcohol dependency.

Tomorrow we will look at a dietary approach

that holds promise.