By MaryBeth Matzek
Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women, but healthcare advances are looking to lower the risk, helping women live longer, healthier lives.
High blood pressure is the primary cause of cardiovascular disease, which is why medical providers focus on treatments, including lifestyle changes and medications, to get blood pressure in an optimal range.
In the U.S., 41.4% of U.S. women are considered obese, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, and obesity is a prime factor for high blood pressure — along with diabetes and high cholesterol. If a woman has these factors, doctors will typically recommend that their patients lose weight, says Dr. Matthew Tattersall, co-director of preventive cardiology, medical director of cardiac rehabilitation and director of the UW Advanced Comprehensive Hypertension Center. GLP-1 (known commonly as Ozempic) was originally developed to help diabetic patients, but doctors discovered it could also help people lose weight.
“GLP-1 is all over the news, and among certain patients, and it really helps decrease a patient’s risk of cardiovascular disease. It makes food move more slowly through the stomach, so people eat less and lose weight,” says Dr. Tattersall. “That brings down the blood pressure. There’s a clear benefit to patients with diabetes and cardiovascular issues.”
Patients with BMIs over 27 and age 45 and above with a previous cardiovascular disease event or type 2 diabetes are ideal candidates for the medication.
“There’s the long horizon — taking GLP-1 reduces cardiovascular disease and stroke risk. On the short horizon, it lowers blood pressure and blood sugar levels,” Dr. Tattersall says.
While it’s a helpful medication to lose weight, patients taking GLP-1 need to make lifestyle changes, including adding exercise to their routine.
He says there are some drawbacks to using GLP-1 — mainly the cost. Not all insurance providers cover the medication, which can cost more than $1,000 a month. Its side effects can include gastrointestinal upset.
ADDRESSING ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common arrhythmia in the U.S. and it increases the risk of stroke. Patients with AFib, an irregular heartbeat that can cause chest pains and heart palpitations, have a new option to improve their cardiovascular health with a new program at UW Health. The Living Well with Atrial Fibrillation Program takes a multi-discipline approach to improving patient health, Dr. Tattersall says.
The 12-week cohort program brings together a health coach, a medical provider, a registered dietician and a clinical exercise physiologist. Each week covers a different topic.
Participants may prepare a healthy dinner together one week and then the following week discuss any potential barriers with a health coach they have to adopting healthier habits, such as exercise.
“It’s a hands-on program and empowers patients to take better control of their health,” Dr. Tattersall says. “Making the right changes can help AFib patients have fewer incidents.”
Talking in a clinic about nutrition is not as helpful as being in a kitchen and discussing labels as class participants make a meal together, he adds.
“It’s all about making the heart as healthy as it can be, which means lowering blood pressure and choles- terol by eating the right foods and getting some exercise,” Dr. Tattersall says.
MENOPAUSE AND THE HEART
Menopause not only causes a number of symptoms — including hot flashes, sleeping problems and weight gain — it can also be hard on your heart.
Estrogen during the pre-menopause years naturally protects women’s heart health by controlling choles- terol levels and reducing the risk of artery plaque buildup. As estrogen levels fall in menopause, it can lead to higher levels of “bad” cholesterol and lower levels of “good” cholesterol, says UW Health cardiologist Dr. Matthew Tattersall.
“There is a link between menopause and women’s heart health,” he says. “Understand your risk factors by talking with your primary care provider and come up with a plan to address them.”
Carrying weight in your midsection — the “menopause belly” — is also bad for your heart health. A thick middle indicates a person is carrying a lot of visceral fat, which is stored deep in the abdomen around vital organs, raising a woman’s risk of a heart attack.
Blood pressure also tends to increase after menopause. Following a heart-healthy diet with lots of vegetables, beans, fresh fruit, fish and whole grains, and regular physical activity can help with weight loss and lower blood pressure.
