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Cardiovascular disease kills 200 women every day in France, making it the leading cause of death affecting them. Applied from an early age, preventive actions could protect their cardiovascular health, but women, although aware of the risks, struggle to apply them on a daily basis. This is revealed by a new study initiated by the French Federation of Cardiology, which calls on the main concerned to become actors of their health.
Women neglect their cardiovascular health
Stress, smoking, lack of physical activity, hormonal cycle, and diet are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women. However, certain female specificities having an impact on cardiovascular health are still unknown to the main people concerned. A major problem raised by the latest Ifop barometer “Heart and women” carried out for the French Federation of Cardiology (FFC).
It shows in particular that an overwhelming majority of women (73%) are aware that cardiovascular diseases do not only affect men, but that only 46% of respondents know that they represent the leading cause of death among women. A lack of knowledge that affects all generations, including the youngest, since 47% of respondents aged under 25 mistakenly consider that men are today the first victims of cardiovascular disease.
The importance of prevention
Prevention remains the key to protecting women’s hearts, and this requires the application of new behaviors in terms of diet and sport, in particular. The main interested parties are fully aware of this, but are still struggling to adopt the right actions to protect their cardiovascular health. The survey reveals, for example, that almost three quarters of women (71%) are aware of the benefits of physical activity on the heart, but that only three out of ten practice sport on a regular basis. The observation is the same in terms of food: half of the respondents know that good food hygiene can prevent certain cardiovascular diseases, but only a fifth (21%) declare that they eat five fruits and vegetables a day.
As for the other main risk factors, they seem non-existent – or almost non-existent – in the eyes of women. Quitting smoking as a means of preventing cardiovascular disease is mentioned spontaneously by only 26% of the women questioned, while stress is mentioned spontaneously by only 5% of the panel. Another misunderstanding that particularly affects them: menopause. More than four in ten respondents (43%) wrongly believe that this period has no impact on their cardiovascular health.
Take charge of your health
Faced with this observation, the French Federation of Cardiology (FFC) calls on women to become actors of their health, and to take action to protect their heart. “Cardiovascular health capital is maintained throughout life and from a very young age. The FFC is actively pursuing its information actions with women and mobilizing to strengthen prevention among the youngest who are still too little aware to cardiovascular dangers. Cardiovascular diseases are certainly on the decline in general. Today, however, they are the leading cause of death among women, with a marked increase in the number of heart attacks among young women”, underlines the Dr Catherine Monpère, cardiologist and co-president of the FFC’s “Coeur de Femmes” Commission, in a press release.
On the initiative of numerous prevention and information actions, the FFC lifts the veil on ten golden rules intended to fight against cardiovascular diseases. These include not using tobacco, exercising regularly, eating healthy, not consuming – or limiting – alcoholic beverages, learning to manage stress, getting enough sleep, or still consult a health professional regularly to monitor their cardiovascular health.
Slide: 16 tips to prevent cardiovascular disease