"Women's Heart" - the second edition starts

Women develop heart disease on average 10 years later than men. Until the onset of menopause, they are protected by hormones - estrogens. Then, it is heart and vascular disease - heart attack and stroke - that are the most common causes of death in women. This is the case not only in Poland, but also in other countries around the world. That is why prophylaxis aimed at women over 55 is so important.

Doctors warn - women do not realize that they are at risk. It seems to them that breast or uterine cancer is much more dangerous for them, and it turns out that cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 45 percent. of all deaths in women, and in men - 39%.

Hence the need to be aware of what tests women over 55 should perform in order to detect heart diseases as soon as possible. The aim of the "Women's Heart" campaign is to extend women's lives by reaching women with the information that simple tests performed with family medicine specialists can save their lives.

The most important thing is to measure your blood pressure regularly, checking your blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Proper blood parameters can prevent the formation of atherosclerosis, which is extremely dangerous for the cardiovascular system of women. That is why family medicine specialists encourage prophylactic examinations, because many women are not aware of the real danger.

- We must remember that the symptoms of heart disease are often not typical. It is not always chest pain, sometimes it is shortness of breath, fatigue, deterioration of exercise tolerance. We do not associate these symptoms with serious heart disease. Rather with fatigue, overwork, rushing - says Dr. Agata Sławin, family medicine specialist, expert of the Zielonogórskie Agreement Federation.

As part of the first campaign, last year, the information about the need for regular blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol tests reached 100,000. women. Now doctors have specific diagnostic suggestions for women. As part of the 40 plus prophylactic program in primary health care offices, such tests can be performed to detect risk factors and the development of atherosclerosis as early as possible and to prevent cardiovascular diseases. That is why doctors encourage women aged 55 plus to visit their family doctors and perform such examinations regularly - at least once a year. And we remind you - you can avoid a heart attack or stroke if you do not have elevated blood pressure, higher cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

- This is generally easy to correct. It is often enough to change the lifestyle, appropriate diet, exercise and appropriate pharmacological treatment introduced by a family medicine specialist - explains Dr. Agata Sławin.

Actress Kinga Preis is the ambassador of the "Women's Heart" campaign, and the partner of the Lower Silesian Association of Family Physicians - Employers.

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