Change of HEART

It may come as a surprise to learn that the single biggest killer of women in New Zealand is heart disease.

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Here are the signs that your ticker may be in trouble

The heart really is an extraordinary machine. There’s really no other hardware on the planet that relentlessly pumps 100,000 times a day for decades with barely a hiccup for the majority of us, yet we tend not to think much about the hard work it silently does until something goes wrong. Heart attack is a leading cause of death and at least two women die from a heart attack every day alone in New Zealand.

“Heart disease is not just a middle-aged man’s disease – that’s a long-held misconception that we do really need to correct,” says cardiologist Professor Jason Kovacic. “Way more women die of heart disease than breast cancer and cervical cancer combined, but the message hasn’t hit home that getting your blood pressure checked is just as important as having a mammogram or pap smear.”

There are plenty of ways to keep your ticker in check, such as maintaining a normal body weight, eating a well-rounded heart-healthy diet – such as vegetables, fruit, legumes, fish, and eggs – enjoying regular physical activity and not smoking.