Women’s hearts in danger: 200 deaths per day in France! The World Heart Day (this year, Monday, September 29, 2024) highlights an often overlooked reality: Every day, 200 women succumb to cardiovascular diseases in France. An alarming figure, revealing the scale of a public health problem. On this occasion, the Fondation Agir pour le Cœur des Femmes is committed to raising awareness and preventing risks.
Cardiovascular diseases in women: an underestimated issue
Contrary to popular belief, cardiovascular diseases do not only affect men. In France, they represent the leading cause of death among womenin the face of cancer. In 2019, they were responsible for 75,000 female deathsTo put these figures into perspective, this is equivalent to 200 women dying every day from heart or blood vessel disease.
This reality is all the more worrying as many women are still unaware of the symptoms and associated risk factors. symptoms Heart attacks in women can be more subtle and less well-known than in men, often delaying medical intervention. This underscores the urgency of a massive information campaign.
The Act for Women’s Hearts Foundation: tireless mobilization
The Foundation Acting for Women’s Heartsfounded by Professor Claire Mounier-Vehier and Thierry Drilhon, plays a crucial role in the fight against cardiovascular diseases in women. As part of World Heart Day, the association recalled its awareness raising actions and prevention to raise awareness of this health emergency.
Among the risk factors specific to women, the smokingthe stressthe sedentary lifestyleand some hormonal treatments, such as those administered during menopause, feature prominently. The Foundation’s goal is to inform and support women so that they take care of their hearts at all stages of their lives.
Concrete actions to raise awareness and prevent
The Fondation Agir pour le Cœur des Femmes does not just sound the alarm. It works on the ground for prevention, education and support for women. It develops programs to identify women at risk early and encourage them to adopt healthier lifestyle habits. These actions include: free medical consultationsof the awareness workshops on diet and physical activity, as well as information campaigns on symptoms to watch out for.
In partnership with health professionals, the foundation aims to reduce the number of deaths linked to cardiovascular diseases by encouraging more systematic screening and appropriate treatment.Cardiovascular diseases in women are still too often underestimated, it is crucial to break the taboos and get the message across: prevention is now“, recalls Professor Claire Mounier-Vehier.
Why are women more vulnerable?
There are many reasons why women are particularly vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases. In addition to the classic risk factors (smoking, unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle), female specificities such as menopause or the complications during pregnancy (preeclampsia, gestational diabetes) increase the risk of heart disease.
Additionally, the symptoms of a heart attack in women may differ from those seen in men. Women often experience diffuse pain in the back, neck, jaw, or severe fatigue, nausea, and shortness of breath. This atypical presentation contributes to the retard de diagnostic and, consequently, to less effective medical care.
5 steps to take to protect your heart
The prevention remains the key to reducing these alarming figures. The Agir pour le Cœur des Femmes Foundation emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle :
In addition, it is essential that women listen to their bodies and do not hesitate to consult as soon as suspicious symptoms appear. Setting up regular medical monitoring, including a cardiovascular assessment, can make all the difference.
Source: www.topsante.com
