Incidences of women dying of heart disease are rising in the country. Stress at work and society are the leading causes.
The worrying fact is that while many men suffering heart attacks, survive, the rates for survival after first attack in women are low.
There isn’t any research in Bangladesh over the death of women from heart diseases. According to American Heart Association, AHA, of three persons dying of heart ailments, one is a woman. The reason why heart diseases in women are not detected is due to misdiagnosis.
However, with changes in lifestyle and outlook, risks of heart diseases can be brought down considerably.
Professor Dr Harisul Huq of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University (BSMMU), told Bangla Tribune: “there isn’t any specific age for heart disease; it can attack any time, women can even have heart attacks prior to menopause.”
He underlined social, mental and economic pressures as the reasons.
In the past, we played on large fields, women in the villages swam in the rivers and they also played on the field but due to rapid urbanization, these open spaces are dwindling, he lamented.
He also blamed our habit of watching TV at night instead of walking after or prior to dinner.
Obesity and extra fat lead to heart ailments, he warned.
“If we reduce our intake of junk food, walk 45 minutes every day, lower our intake of rice then the heart can be healthy.”
Another cause of Hypertopic Cardio-myopathy, which is genetic and often is a post-partum complication.
Saying that this condition may happen within 26 weeks after delivery, he advised a post-delivery visit to the cardiologist for all new mothers.
President of the Health Right Movement’s national committee, Professor. Dr Rahid E Mahbub, told Bangla Tribune: “the pre-requisite to prevent heart diseases is awareness among the masses.”