Heart disease is responsible for more deaths among American women than all types of cancer combined, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If this is news to you, rest assured you’re not alone. Many women don’t know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for their gender, making awareness and prevention all the more important.
More women need to seek healthcare to prevent heart disease, and many medical providers can help women take charge of their heart health while meeting their gynecological needs, too. With this in mind, the American Heart Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a joint advisory encouraging OB/GYNs to screen and counsel women about heart health during annual well-women exams.
Some heart disease risk factors, like age and family history, are beyond our control. But learning ways to lower your risk can help you take control over your health, benefitting your body, mind and spirit.
Teaming up with your OB/GYN to assess and treat any heart disease risk factors you may have could protect your heart for many years to come. If you don’t have an OB/GYN, Sydney Walker, DO, is an experienced and compassionate OB/GYN who’s currently accepting new patients in Woodridge and North Riverside. To schedule your appointment with Dr. Walker, call us at 630-969-7706.
Caring for Your Heart at Your Annual Well-Woman Exam
Many women think of their OB/GYN as their primary care provider, especially during their childbearing years. According to the advisory, OB/GYNs should use the annual well-woman exam as an opportunity to provide a heart-health screening. This includes:
- Taking a thorough family history
- Screening for heart disease risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and abnormal cholesterol levels
- Counseling women about healthy lifestyle changes, such as improving their diet and increasing their physical activity, if needed
OB/GYNs are also a key resource for protecting women’s heart health because there are several heart disease risk factors that are unique to women. They include:
- Pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the heart), preterm delivery and having a baby with a low birth weight
- Polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal condition that causes the ovaries to develop small collections of fluid
- Autoimmune disorders (in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body) that occur more often in women, such as rheumatoid arthritis (an inflammatory disease affecting the joints)
- Breast cancer treatments, as common medications to treat cancer can damage the heart
Along with traditional risk factors, it’s crucial for your OB/GYN to consider these factors, too, to gain a more comprehensive assessment of your heart health. This information may also guide their decisions about treatments they recommend, such as using medications to manage blood pressure or prevent blood clots. Many OB/GYNs will also consider these risk factors when prescribing contraception or hormone replacement therapy.
Talk With Your Healthcare Provider
Even if you feel healthy today, you could still be at risk for heart disease. Most women have at least one risk factor for heart disease, so taking charge of your heart health early is essential to staying healthier for longer.
During your next visit with your primary care provider or OB/GYN, be sure to ask about your heart health. Find out whether you have any risk factors and what you can start doing to manage them. Partnering with your healthcare provider to protect your heart health can ultimately mean a longer, healthier life.
Your Local OB/GYN Is Now Accepting New Patients
Sydney Walker, DO, is a UChicago Medicine AdventHealth OB/GYN who provides comprehensive and compassionate care that is patient-centered, holistic and evidence-based. She has office locations in Woodridge and North Riverside. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Walker, call us at Call630-969-7706.
Learn more about our women’s care and view our full list of OB/GYN providers near you, and explore our cardiology care at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth.
