A Healthy HeartWhat Women Need to Know

By Jordan Robertson, ND

Overview

• Surprising statistics• Are you at risk?• How can you make a difference?• Working together for a healthier you

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What is heart disease?

• An umbrella term to describe a variety of diseases that affect the heart.

• Includes diseases such as high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.

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Quick facts

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death in North American women

• Only 55% of women identify heart disease as their greatest health risk

• Death from heart disease is rising in women

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Risk factors

Un-modifiable risk factors• Age• Genetics

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Risk Factors

Modifiable risk factors• Cigarette smoking• High blood pressure• Diabetes• Obesity• Psychosocial factors (stress)• Low fruit and vegetable intake• Low levels of exercise• Excessive alcohol intake

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A Change Will Do You Good!

• Awareness• Diet• Exercise• Stress reduction• Neutraceuticals• Pharmaceuticals

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Awareness - Get Tested!

• Heart disease is nicknamed the “silent killer” because you don’t feel most of the symptoms.

• Simple blood tests and physical exam measures can tell us if you are at risk.

• Women should be tested as part of their yearly physical exam with their Medical or Naturopathic Doctor.

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Diet - You Are What You Eat

• Fruits and vegetables• Fiber• Protein• Oils and fats

– Olive oil– Omega 3 fats– Trans fats

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Trendy Diets – do they work?

• Trendy diets such as Atkins and the South Beach diet show evidence of short term weight loss.

• However, these diets have little or no benefit with respect to heart disease risk.

• The Mediterranean diet has been shown to have positive outcomes with respect to heart disease risk.

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The Mediterranean Diet

• Olive oil• Fish • Fruits and vegetables• Whole grains• Low saturated fats • Moderate red wine consumption

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Picking a Diet For You

A Nutritionist or Naturopathic Doctor can help you individualize your diet in order to achieve your specific health goals.

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Exercise - Move it!

• Aerobic exercise has been shown to decrease cholesterol in women.

• Cardiovascular exercise also decreases stress and improves blood oxygen levels.

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Exercise - Step counting

• Multiple studies have shown benefit in women using a pedometer to count their total steps taken daily.

• Keeping track of daily activity helps with motivation and goes a long way in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

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Exercise

• Regular weight lifting has also been shown to balance blood sugar levels, which can decrease your risk of heart disease.

• It is important to consult your Medical or Naturopathic Doctor when starting a new or different exercise program.

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Stress Reduction -Take This Home!

• Meditation and deep breathing have been shown in studies to decrease blood pressure by an average of 4.7/3.2 mmHg.

• Try practicing 2 minutes of deep breathing per day in the morning and at night as well as during stressful moments in your day.

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Neutraceuticals and Functional Foods

• Neutraceuticals and functional foods are prescribed by your Naturopathic Doctor at specific dosages and times of the day depending on your needs and goals.

• Examples for heart disease include fish oil, antioxidants and herbs such as hawthorne and garlic.

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Supporting Drug Therapy• Many drugs are used to help modify risk factors

for heart disease.

• Some of these drugs can have side effects which can be helped by a Naturopathic Doctor.

• Most research shows that drug therapy plus diet and lifestyle interventions have the best results in patients who need drugs.

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Common Heart Drugs

• Cholesterol lowering – “Statins”

• Blood pressure lowering

• Blood thinning – Aspirin

• Others

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When to Get Help• Women often delay seeking treatment for heart

disease and may misread warning signs for serious concerns such as a heart attack.

• A study by the American Heart Association found that 95% of women suffering from heart attack experienced symptoms up to a month before their heart disease caused a heart attack, but few of them sought treatment.

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When to Get Help (cont’d)

• The same study showed that the symptoms reported by women during a heart attack included:– Shortness of breath (57.8%)– Weakness (54.8%)– Fatigue (42.9%)– Chest pain was absent in 43% of women

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or others such as chest pain, palpitations, sweating, slurred speech or sudden weakness, you should seek medical help right away.

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What is a Naturopathic Doctor?• Naturopathic Doctors are provincially regulated primary

care providers with eight years of education and training to combine medical diagnosis with a broad range of natural therapies.

• We work with other health care providers to ensure that patients receive the most comprehensive and effective care possible.

• We are experienced in helping patients with natural approaches that can reduce reliance on pharmaceuticals for many chronic diseases including heart disease.

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Naturopathic Doctors Can Help

• Just by being here today you have already chosen to look at your health in an active and hopefully preventative way.

• NDs are able to address and treat all the modifiable risk factors for Heart Disease.

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Naturopathic Doctors are Trained to Help You to:

– Identify risk factors (both heredity and lifestyle) and develop individualized plans to optimize health

– Treat and manage chronic illness– Address the root cause of symptoms and

therefore treat the root rather than medicate the symptom

– Bring a healthy balance to your life

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Find Out More

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Parting Thoughts

• Know Your Risks– What are your modifiable risk factors?– What is your family history?

• Diet with Exercise• Find Stress Relief

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