#182 Heart Health for Women Over 50: The Importance of Lifestyle and Diet

Pursue Your Spark - Midlife, Fitness, Nutrition, Mindset, Health, women over 50

Heart disease is the number one killer of women. In fact, after age 50, nearly half of all deaths in women are due to some form of cardiovascular disease. Once women reach the age of 50, about the age of natural menopause, their risk for heart disease increases dramatically.

The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type of heart disease for people over 50 is coronary artery disease (CAD), which occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked by plaque. This can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, and even heart attack.

Another type of heart disease is cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, and people stop to breath normally. This can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling in the legs.

Women over 50 are at a slightly higher risk of dying from a heart attack than men of the same age. For women, menopause doesn’t cause cardiovascular disease, but risk factors can occur around this period of a woman’s life, and heart disease symptoms may become more evident afterward.

We are talking about 5 ways women over 50 can improve their heart health. Research has shown that exercising regularly in middle age can improve the elasticity of blood vessels brought on by a sedentary lifestyle and reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Reach out to me at [email protected] or on social media if you have more questions and need help with your health goals.

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Links mentioned in the show:

• Fasted + Fit Over 50 Jump Start
• Boost Your Energy With Nutrition Strategies For Women over 50
• Empty Nest Reboot program
• Heike Yates Instagram @heikeyates