The AHA spotlights preventive heart health care for women this Valentine’s Day

14 Feb 2024 --- A new statement by the American Heart Association (AHA) emphasizes that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the US, with emerging evidence that female-specific factors may exacerbate the risk of heart health problems, such as complications during pregnancy and premature menopause. Preventive care focused on diet and nutrition is vital. 

“For most of the last century, heart disease was considered a problem for men, and women were believed to have cardioprotective benefits from female sex hormones such as estrogen,” says Dr. Nanette K. Wenger, professor of medicine at the division of cardiology at the Emory University School of Medicine, US. 

“However, emerging evidence shows that there are a substantial number of heart disease risk factors that are specific to women or predominant in women.”

The association highlights that women often exhibit different symptoms of heart problems than men, which in practice means that women are less likely to receive evidence-based treatments and fully recover after a cardiac event.

Heart health during pregnancy and postpartum
The AHA scientific statement was published in the association’s journal Circulation as part of its special Go Red for Women Spotlight issue. 

An estimated 10% to 20% of pregnant women experience health complications, such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes, often caused by the metabolic and vascular changes that occur during pregnancy. Such complications are outlined as significant risk factors for future complications, including lifetime threat of heart disease, heart failure, stroke, chronic kidney disease and vascular dementia. 

“Despite these well-established associations, little is known about the care that may best reduce cardiovascular risk in women who had pregnancy complications, and what efforts may be appropriate to reduce their long-term heart disease risk and optimize cardiovascular health throughout their lifespan,” outlines Jennifer Lewey, MD, chair of the writing group for the scientific statement. 

“Pregnant and postpartum women have traditionally been excluded from clinical trials, and, therefore, we have far less evidence to help guide their care,” she further points out. 

The AHA asserts that maintaining a healthy weight and diet and exercising regularly are essential lifestyle interventions for optimal cardiovascular health in women who have given birth. 

The risk for obesity is increased by postpartum weight retention, with 60% of birth givers retaining weight a year after delivery and many gaining additional weight. The postpartum period is identified as critical for healthy weight management and cardiovascular risk education. 

A recently introduced AHA project aims to determine the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of including diet-related provisions in patient care.

The importance of dietary choices to women’s heart health was also outlined in a study published last month, which revealed that the consumption of plant-based protein facilitates healthy aging and reduces the risk of heart health among female participants.

By Milana Nikolova