Heart Disease And Women
Take Heart
February is National Heart month, a time when our thoughts turn to protecting this all-important organ.
In my experience as a physician, I can categorically state that the majority of my women patients do not realistically assess the fact that they have a serious risk of cardiovascular disease. There is a very popular, (although completely erroneous) concept, that heart disease is more of a male disease.
In fact, the opposite is true. After menopause, the risk of heart disease in women becomes comparable to the incidence in men. When we consider that the majority of women will spend one-third to one-half of their lives in post menopause, we can see that heart disease is a very serious threat, to health, well-being, and even life itself.
Leading Cause of Death
Heart disease, in its many manifestations, is the # 1 cause of death for woman aged sixty-five and over.
Conversely, only about one-third of younger women with heart disease die before the age of sixty five.
However, it is not on most of our radar screens. Instead, there is a tremendous awareness among women, well-fostered by the media, of the threat of breast cancer. While this is a threat, it palls in comparison to the mortality rate of heart disease, which kills 10 times as many women as breast cancer.
Unfortunately, women are at a disadvantage (compared to men) when it comes to treating or even recognizing heart disease. CNN recently reported the findings of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which stated that women may not be diagnosed or treated as aggressively as men.
However with proper guidance, a few simple tests and lifestyle changes, we can significantly decrease this cardiovascular risk.
“C-ing” the Light
Scientists and physicians now recognize that heart disease is mediated by inflammatory chemicals. This should come as no surprise to Perricone readers, as I have long held inflammation to be at the base of most diseases.
So what to do? Follow an anti-inflamatory diet, get your antioxidants through diet and supplements, take supplements like Vitamin C ester, Omega-3, and pursue a healthy exercise regimen.
Thank you for this valuable information!^_^
Minkyong,
Hello, we were long ago sold on Dr Perricone, after seeing him on public television. Fast forward many years of too much inflammation, our 7 yo daughter has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
We are becoming aware of how saturated all five our our children’s diets are with sugar, and are majorly cutting back. We’ve found some very friendly and affordable options in Fiber One and some 100 calorie pack companies, etc.
What can we do Dr Perricone, to heal her pancreas during these important few weeks after diagnosis, while she has some beta cells and iselets remaining. Please help us now!
http://growinguprtists2.blogspot.com
Um, make thar http://growingupArtists2.blogspot.com
Dr. Perricone,
I watched one of your interviews on you tube and you stated that fragrance/parfum causes cellular inflammation; however, noticing the ingredients in your products I saw fragrance. If you are concerned with inflammation why are you putting fragrance in your products? I understand that you are putting a lot of other ingredients in that are anti-inflammatory; however, my concern is that they aren’t doing any good. I also noticed the use of alcohol in your products which can dry and irritate skin. Please advise me on this concern of mine. I would really like to use your products; however, I do not want to spend $500 dollars on something that is going to do more damage or prove to be worthless. I appreciate your concern and assistance. Keelie.
Dear Jessica,
You are right to question the use of fragrance ingredients. Dr. Perricone, as a dermatologist, shares your concerns. Fragrance ingredients are usually complex mixtures of natural materials and such materials can exhibit adverse dermatological effects such as contact allergy and irritation. For this reason, Dr. Perricone does not use fragrance ingredients in his products. He does incorporate certain essential oils that resemble fragrance ingredients, in that they have appealing characteristic odors. However, such oils are pure substances, selected for their safety and other performance benefits.
“Alcohol” is a chemical term for compounds that contain a “hydrogen/oxygen” group (OH) attached to the molecule with a single chemical bond (electron). The so-called lower alcohols, which have relatively short carbon chain lengths, include ethyl and isopropyl alcohols, and generally function as astringents on the skin.
In some cases, the presence of alcohol is desirable because it removes excess oils from the skin, and thus is used in toners, ’skin fresheners’ and acne products, however, the form of alcohol that Dr. Perricone uses in almost all his products acts as a moisturizing agent, forming a non-oily film on the skin surface that holds water in. Cetearyl alcohol is widely used in dermatological products for their safety and emollient properties.
I hope this information is helpful.
Speaking of alcohols, I notice sugar alcohol being used in many Sugar Free candies. They’re too many carbs for us anyway, I’d rather indulge in REAL sugar, or at least Blue Agave (even my husband’s sensitive pallette found it delicious…in place of 60g carb breakfast syrup).
But what do they do to the body? I started wondering if they create unnatural burning, what’s good about that? And I’d love more of your opinions on tempering sugar absorption/insulin production with carbs slowed down by fats like peanut butter.
I could really use your expertise as I climb this “all children should be eating more healthfully” slash diabetes is more a blessing than a curse, mountain view. Dr. Perricone, and associates have always been our standard as far as lifestyle and diet goals.
Please reach out a hand and help me wade through the opportunity of managing a destabilized pancreas into antibody fighting health.
Thanks, for the hope!
jeskiley@yahoo.com
http://growingupartists2.blogspot.com
[...] sure that her food choices are especially cardio-protective. This is because after menopause, the risk of heart disease in women becomes comparable to the incidence in men. As a physician, I was quite astonished to learn that [...]
Thanks for another great article. Many women are not aware of the increased risk of heart disease after menopause. More needs to be said about it. Thanks again!
Thanks for all of the great information.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, thanks for making us think.