‘Vital for women to take care of their health first’ | Nagpur News

With more and more women contributing to the household economy, they often work long hours, juggling in and out of the house, meeting deadlines, ticking the ‘to do list’ and what not. It becomes imperative that they don’t forget to make themselves a priority, says consulting physician and non-invasive cardiologist Dr Vimmi Goel. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, which is observed on March 8, Dr Goel touches upon overall health issues of women and remedies in an exclusive interview with TOI.
Excerpts…
Q. What makes a healthy woman?
A. The first step in being a healthy woman is prioritizing your self-care. You very well know that health should always be a bigger priority but somehow it seems to take a back seat while you are immersed in the role of taking care of everyone else around you. In order to be your best version for yourself, you should take care of yourself first, after all you can never pour from an empty cup.
Q. Do you see women at a greater health risk?
A. Nature has bestowed upon women the ability to bring a new life into this world — the most physically demanding thing a human could do. In this process, a woman has to pass through enormous hormonal changes and maybe ailments related to conception, making it even more necessary that health care for women should not be allowed to slip down the priority list. A woman’s heart looks like that of a man but when it comes to diseases of heart there are significant differences.
Q. What are these differences?
A. Apart from the usual risk factors (diabetes, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol etc) which are common to both genders, certain pregnancy-related diseases which only affect women can up their risk of getting blockages in arteries. Even symptoms of a heart attack can be different in women. While most men experience a crushing chest pain, women may exhibit subtler symptoms eg. dramatic fatigue, shortness of breath or pain in the back, neck or jaw. Also, women don’t tend to do as well as men after a heart attack. A coronary event is often harder on women than on men in terms of duration of the hospital stay or related complications. The clot busting drugs and certain heart-related medical procedures don’t do as much good to women compared to men. Diabetes and smoking addiction affect a woman’s health more poorly than that of a man. What is heartening though is that certain simple, continued steps can lead one toward a healthier and longer life.
Q. How can they set it right?
A. First of all, kick the sedentary habits. Exercise is one of the best health tips for women. It benefits the mind too. To improve your heart’s health do whatever it takes to stay active. Take a walk, run, hit the gym every once in a while, walk your pet, take the stairs, play with kids, every bit of effort counts.
Q. What would you advise women taking the extreme step such as giving up certain foods altogether?
A. Diet plays an important role too. One needs to have a balanced diet, including veggies, proteins, fruits and even carbs. To stick with habits in the long run, moderation is the key. Keep in mind Goldilock’s principle due to which our planet has been such an incredibly perfect place to live in. The third rock — the earth is just at the right distance from the sun, with just the right temperature — neither too hot, nor too cold — just moderate. This concept of ‘just the right amount’ can easily and should be applied to health and fitness and the philosophy should be used to our advantage since ‘nature is always right’. Depriving yourself is not the answer. On top of eating healthy food, you should at times allow yourself to have some less healthy, pleasure foods too but in moderation. Take a limited serving and put the rest of it back in your pantry and you will still be on your way to a healthier, happier you.
Q. Can stress add to heart ailments?
A. Stress is an all important causative factor when it comes to heart ailments. Cut the stress as much as possible. Take deep breaths when things become overwhelming. Proper breathing can eliminate as much as 70% of all toxins in the body — make full use of this. Make mindfulness a part of your daily routine to deal with stress. Have meaningful relationships with people around you. Having a good heart to heart talk with someone close can be therapeutic and can give you long lasting benefits. Laugh away the blues to bring greater happiness and even boost your immunity. Never underestimate the power of watching a funny podcast or your favourite comedy series with your friends. And while you devote time to screen gadgets you must not forget the restorative powers of a good night’s sleep. Seven to eight hours of sleep per day regulates your moods, keeps the mind sharp and reduces anxiety.
Q. Are regular screenings needed?
A. Keep meeting your doctor regularly for check ups and screenings. Blood work, biometric data and other preventive testing measures should be done. These timely interventions can nip potential issues in the bud. Inculcating these suggestions into your everyday life can help you be healthier and in turn more productive. However, don’t feel pressured to go about these all at once. Listening to your body is important too. Even if you only get one healthy habit in a day, that’s still better than nothing.