Category: Women's cardiac risk factors

– posts here focus on how to address your risk factors to help prevent heart disease

Improve your heart health – on a budget

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 1 Comment

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

Is it possible for us to follow a heart-smart lifestyle and still stay within a tight budget? What if we can’t afford to join a pricey gym? And can those of us counting pennies still afford to purchase those heart-healthy but expensive foods every day? Here are tips from two savvy experts who say YES to all of the above:

According to Canadian dietician Cara Rosenbloom:

“It just takes a little bit of extra planning and a little bit of extra thought to eat healthy while still saving money.”

Rosenbloom’s advice includes: click to continue reading

Can exercise trigger a heart attack?

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 13 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

Last winter, I heard about four men in Ottawa – ages 45-72 – who had heart attacks, all on the same afternoon and all while shovelling snow.  Despite news reports like this, it is not true that Ottawa men will do just about anything to get out of doing their chores.

Nor is it true that exercise all by itself will trigger a heart attack.

According to Mayo Clinic cardiologist Dr. Sharonne Hayes:

“All heart attack patients have had an underlying condition that caused the attack.”  

Most heart attacks, in fact, are 20-30 years in the making.

About half of all heart attack survivors, however, mistakenly blame the attack on one specific event – such as extreme exertion.   Continue reading “Can exercise trigger a heart attack?” →

Sleep problems can lead to heart problems for women

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ Leave a comment

Having ongoing trouble getting a good night’s sleep, heart sisters?  This common complaint may mean bigger problems than just feeling exhausted and cranky the following morning. Researchers at the University of Warwick and University College London in the U.K. reported this month that women who get less than the recommended eight hours of sleep per night are at higher risk of heart disease and heart-related problems than men with the same sleeping patterns.

The study, published on July 1st in the American journal, SLEEP, has found that levels of inflammatory markers vary significantly with sleep duration in women, but not in men. One of the markers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), is considered to be predictive of future cardiovascular events. Levels of hs-CRP were significantly higher in women who reported sleeping five hours or less.

Find out more about this research report.   Or learn some helpful techniques to beat insomnia with ‘good sleep hygiene’ (including why you should always turn your bedside alarm clock facing away from you).

** DO YOU LIVE IN THE TORONTO AREA?  Have you had trouble falling/staying asleep or waking up too early for at least the past six weeks?  You might be eligible to participate in a sleep study at Ryerson University. The study is being conducted to examine the preferences of persons with insomnia for medical and non-medical treatments for managing insomnia.  For more info, contact Jessica at:

Insomnia Treatment Preferences Research

Health Intervention Research Centre

Ryerson University

Tel: 416-979-5000 ext. 2568


University College London has found that levels of inflammatory markers vary significantly with sleep duration in women, but not men.
The study, published today (Weds) in the American journal SLEEP, found levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a marker related to coronary heart disease, were significantly lower in women who reported sleeping eight hours as compared with 7hours.
A second marker, High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), is predictive of future cardiovascular morbidity. Levels of hs-CRP were significantly higher in women who reported sleeping five hours or less.

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Depressing news about depression and women’s heart disease

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 9 Comments

.by Carolyn Thomas   ♥  @HeartSisters

Women suffering from depression have higher risks of developing heart disease, and women with heart disease have higher risks of becoming depressed. I find this reality a bit depressing…

I was stunned to find myself in that latter group within weeks of my own heart attack. With no personal experience of depression, I knew something was terribly wrong with me, but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what that might be. I had just survived a massive heart attack – shouldn’t I be feeling fabulous and grateful?  Continue reading “Depressing news about depression and women’s heart disease” →