A lot of “isms” exist in healthcare and medicine. Quality care and service that should cover everyone often falls victim to racism and sexism.
It could be putting your life at risk.
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New recommendations from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) indicate that many symptoms denoting hypertension are often chalked up to menopause. Such mischaracterizations could lead to significant heart problems in the future.
In a document published in the European Heart Journal, experts identified that up to half of women develop high blood pressure before age 60. Still, symptoms like hot flashes and heart palpitations are often attributed to menopause.
Lead author Dr. Angela Mass said, “We know that blood pressure is treated less well in women compared to men, putting them at risk for atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and stroke,” in an ESC news release.
Without action, high blood pressure gets worse with age. If you’re unaware of it because your doctor is misidentifying symptoms, it can lead to significant problems when you reach your 60s or 70s. Further, these problems will be much more challenging to treat.
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Taking independent steps to reduce the risk of high blood pressure is the best place to start. Diet and exercise play an instrumental role in reducing, regulating, and managing blood pressure. They are also entirely within your control.
Eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fatty fish, lean proteins, and limiting processed food intake is a great place to start. Making sure you’re getting at least 30-minutes of activity per day is another heart-healthy lifestyle measure to lower blood pressure.
You should be able to rely on your doctor and other healthcare professionals to treat you properly. Unfortunately, it is not always the reality. Pay careful attention to your blood pressure, lifestyle, and remind your doctor to assess any potential hypertension causes.
About eight years ago, Mat Lecompte had an epiphany. He’d been ignoring his health and suddenly realized he needed to do something about it. Since then, through hard work, determination and plenty of education, he has transformed his life. He’s changed his body composition by learning the ins and outs of nutrition, exercise, and fitness and wants to share his knowledge with you. Starting as a journalist over 10 years ago, Mat has not only honed his belief system and approach with practical experience, but he has also worked closely with nutritionists, dieticians, athletes, and fitness professionals. He embraces natural healing methods and believes that diet, exercise and willpower are the foundation of a healthy, happy, and drug-free existence.
