There are many factors that women are faced with that may increase their risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Some factors consist of family history, race, ethnicity, genetics, age, if a woman is obese or smokes, has diabetes, has elevated cholesterol, hypertension, if a woman approaches menopause as well as after a woman goes through menopause, or if a woman has a sedentary lifestyle. A lot of these health factors can be prevented with proper diet, exercise, and preventative care. Unfortunately there are some risk factors that a woman cannot change. Risk factors such as being obese, having diabetes, hypertension, or who have elevated cholesterol can make changes to improve their health with exercise and healthy eating. Risk factors that are beyond a woman’s control are family history, genetics, ethnicity, age, and menopause. I know as women we wish we could alter these factors but unfortunately this is out of our control. The thing that we can do as women is be proactive and take the necessary care for ourselves because we are given only one life so we may as well make the best out of it. Cardiovascular disease and cancer goes far beyond prevention but as well as setting good health examples for our children, families, and communities. People learn best through example so if we set good health examples now then these behaviors will be adopted by our loved ones. As I have already mentioned eating healthy, working out regularly, and engaging in preventative care will help improve a woman’s life dramatically. Women who make these changes and stand by them decrease their risk of these diseases but are not given a free pass of never getting these diseases. However, if knowledgeable of the warning signs for cardiovascular disease, and cancer then a woman is more likely to detect these health issues earlier and have better chances of recovery and survival. Get active, work out at least three times per week for thirty minutes, more is always better but do something. Eat healthy by eating lots of fruit of vegetables, eating food rich in whole grains, drink milk, and don’t forget your protein, eat meat and beans. Try and stay away from trans fats, saturated fat, limit your sugar, and salt intake. Don’t forget to go to the doctor and get your blood pressure taken both in the doctor’s office and on your own, have your doctor listen to your heart beat and make sure there is nothing abnormal or irregular, get your yearly physicals, and if in doubt go to your doctor. There are so many new technologies out there now that early detection can help save your life. Remember, we as women cannot change genetic factors, our ethnicity, race, aging, menopause, etc. but we can eliminate the ones that can be caused by unhealthy lifestyles such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension etc. By maintaining these healthy life style changes we improve our quality of life. Get active, and make a change for you!
-Brittany LeBron
-Brittany LeBron
Your post was very informative. Everything you said is very true. There are things that are out of our control, but yet there are many things that we can control. The advice you give about eating healthy and trying to exercise at least 3 times a week, for 30 minutes is a very useful tool to have. Thank you for providing these facts for us to read.
ReplyDeleteCarla Keeley :)
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI like your post and how you mention all the ways we can prevent ourselves from having a cardiovascular disease. Along with nutrition, screenings, not smoking or drinking and other preventions, a big thing is to stay physically active, which you mentioned. I work at Curves for women and it is a 30 min workout that has strength training and cardio together. It targets women and we have a lot of older women who come in especially with high blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. However, I still see many women that continue to make excuses to not work out. They get lazy and too tired and don't commit to something that can help save their life. It's unfortunate but it's true. Hopefully more women can be informed of the benefits that physical activity has on their risk of getting a CVD.
-Sarah Petersen
Hi Brittany,
ReplyDeleteEverything you mentioned is very true. You posted some really informative facts for women about cardivascular disease. I think it awesome that you gave several examples of how to implement some of these suggested lifestyle changes. I agree, we only get one chance at life and in order to make the best out of it, we must learn how to protect our health. It is definitley a challenge we all must vow to accept. Small changes can make a big difference. Thanks for your post.
Martinetta
Good Day Brittany,
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how precious our body organs are especially our heart, it is one of the important engines in our body and just like cars if we do not maintain it is only a matter of time that it will break down. Unlike cars however, if we breakdown there might be a point of no return like death. It is important that we implement exercise and health eating as we get educated more and more about causes of heart disease. Both my father and mother suffer from heart disease and more now than ever, I'm working very hard in making a difference in my diet and choices of nutrition that I offer my family. We have to make a stand or we will fall. Great post!
Dana Anderson