Preventing diseases such as hypertension and controlling cholesterol and triglyceride levels are key to keeping the heart healthy. Photo: Pexels.
New research challenges the conventional wisdom that men are more exposed wing atrial fibrillation. The new study results were obtained at Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute in the United States. They were published in the journal JAMA Cardiology. They suggest that clinicians should be vigilant in promoting the prevention of atrial fibrillation and early interventions between patients of both sexes.
“It’s him first study showing a real change in the risk of atrial fibrillation. strong points Christine Albert, chief of the cardiology department at the Smidt Heart Institute. Who is also the lead author of the study and director of the national trial VITAL rhythm, on which these results are based. In this population of 25,000 people with no cardiac history, after adjusting for height differences, the women They even presented a increased risk of developing AF than their male counterparts: more than 50%.
As Albert explains, when greater is an individual, the more likely you are to suffer from AF. This is why it has been shown that women have a lower risk of suffering from the disease, since they tend to be smaller than men.
“Our study, however, surprisingly suggests that if a man and a woman are the same height, the woman would be more likely to develop atrial fibrillation -explains Albert-. Now the question has changed. Instead of knowing why women are protected, we must now try to understand why women They are more at risk.”
Major damage if left untreated
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm and, if left untreated, it can cause stroke or heart failure. When a woman is diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, she is more likely to experience one of these adverse consequences than a man. Because of this the prevention atrial fibrillation is extremely important.
Patients diagnosed with this disease may be treated with blood thinners and outpatient procedures. Like cardioversion or ablation, or with cardiac surgery. However, women are traditionally less likely to undergo invasive treatments for atrial fibrillation, such as ablation. “With him increased incidence, it is more imperative than ever to offer preventive strategies and early diagnostic interventions to all patients”. Notes Albert, professor of cardiology at Cedars-Sinai and holder of the Lee and Harold Kapelovitz Distinguished Chair in Cardiology.
The most effective prevention strategies for atrial fibrillation in both men and women, according to Albert, are to maintain a Healthy weight. Blood pressure control, limiting alcohol consumption and moderate exercise. “These lifestyle changes are important for people at risk for atrial fibrillation, they are significant changes that all women should consider to prevent heart-related conditions”. says Dr. Noel Bairey Merz, director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center at the Smidt Heart Institute.
Bairey Merz says the data underscores the importance of preventing atrial fibrillation in women. “It’s a disease we want to prevent, regardless of sex or gender,” says Albert. This informative study is a milestone for the medical community to take notice and start discussing the risk of atrial fibrillation with all patients, whether male or female.” At the same time, researchers from the University of Kerala (India) and the University of Nova Gorica (Slovenia) have developed a new diagnostic method identify the most common cardiac dysfunctions.