Most women in Nigeria die from heart diseases more than any other disease, which is a major cause for concern. However, many women find it difficult to take action, and the consequences of their inactions can lead to complications that could have been prevented.
According to statistics from a Nigerian journal in 2018, the most common primary disease affecting women is hypertensive heart disease, and the numbers keep rising. If you do not protect your heart, nobody will do it for you, which is why we will be looking at some of the best tips to reduce your risk of heart disease.
1. Know your risk factors
There are a lot of risk factors associated with heart diseases, and most women need to know which of the risk factors they have. Some of them include:
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Family history with heart diseases
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
Another risk factor that can lead to heart disease is obesity – the love for not just eating but eating unhealthy foods like shawarma, pizza, cakes, smoothies, and carbonated drinks on a regular basis. Knowing which risk factor is linked personally to you is well on your way to preventing heart diseases that can rob you of a lot of fun time with your family.
2. Recognize the symptoms of a heart attack
Another important tip to preventing heart diseases is recognizing the symptoms of heart diseases. Many women in Nigeria, in particular, neglect medical signs and the need for regular check-ups, all in the name of faith. Taking care of your health is essential to living, and it does not by any means negate your faith. So, if as a woman you notice any of these symptoms, rush to your hospital immediately; it does not by any means mean you are faithless:
- Extreme fatigue
- Lightheadedness
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Pains and aches in the arm, neck, chest or abdomen
3. Exercise
You might be tired of hearing it, but we are not tired of saying it; if you want to be healthy and prevent heart diseases, you need to exercise. The good life (air-conditioned home, air-conditioned office, air-conditioned car) is great, don’t get me wrong, but to stay safe and prevent heart diseases, you need to exercise. Even if you’re very busy, check out our article on exercises for busy women and watch your health transform dramatically. This will not only help keep you healthy, but it will also help you maintain a healthy weight.
4. Stop Smoking
If you smoke, you need to stop it for your heart and overall health. While it might be difficult to stop smoking on your own, seeking a professional can help you quit smoking which can damage your health.
Bottom Line
Heart attacks are real; they happen to some of the people who seemingly look healthy, and you wonder if it is just a random occurrence. Well, it is not, and most of the time, there are warning signs you can follow. A popular adage here in the Yoruba says, “Abo oro la man so fun omooluabi, to ba de inu e o ma de odindi,” meaning “half a word is enough for a responsible child; as it becomes a full word when it gets inside him.” So take a look at all these tips, work out a plan and take care of your heart health.
