Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease in Women Overview

Traditional forms of treatment of coronary heart disease, such as angioplasty and stents, may not be as effective for women who don't experience heart disease in the usual way -- that is, with bulky plaque build-up in the main arteries. But this doesn't mean women are left without any form of treatment. Lifestyle changes have been shown to be particularly effective in treating women who have coronary heart disease.

Heart disease treatments for women
Treatments that prevent heart disease
in men are not necessarily effective in women.

The Women's Healthy Lifestyle Project examined whether modifications in dietary habits could beneficially affect or prevent the increase in LDL cholesterol; weight gain; increase in triglycerides, blood pressure, and insulin; and decrease in HDL cholesterol that typically occur with menopause. More than 500 women were encouraged to lower their dietary fat intake to 25 percent of daily calories, lower their saturated fat intake to 7 percent of calories, and lower their dietary cholesterol to 100 mg daily.

The women were also requested to increase their level of physical activity and lose between 5 and 15 pounds, depending on their weight at the beginning of the study. Approximately half the women (called the intervention group) received intensive group support for six months and follow-up support for up to four and a half years; the other half (called the control group) did not receive such extensive support.

Researchers found that LDL cholesterol increased much less in the intervention group compared with the control group. Likewise, triglyceride and insulin levels increased much less in the intervention group compared with the control group.

The control group experienced weight gain, and although women in the intervention group did not on average lose weight, they decreased their waist circumference. The researchers observed, however, that the women who lost weight experienced greater bone loss and concluded that efforts to improve cardiovascular health also require efforts to maintain bone health. Although modifications in dietary and lifestyle habits did not prevent an increase in risk factors, healthy habits were able to blunt the increase and the subsequent effects.

The best form of treatment, though, is prevention. Long before the age of 50, women should focus on minimizing any risk factors that may contribute later to the lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease. A woman can't prevent menopause, but she can foster a healthy lifestyle that decreases its effect on her risk of coronary heart disease.

Eating a balanced diet and engaging in regular physical activity contribute to losing excess weight or maintaining a healthy weight. Women should eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products. They should consume protein in the form of legumes, lean meats, poultry, and fish. Women at high risk should also consider taking an omega-3 fatty acid supplement. Activities such as gardening, walking the dog, or participating in a structured aerobics program can all increase fitness.

Together, these health habits can decrease a woman's chances of developing abdominal obesity; elevated triglycerides, blood pressure, blood glucose; and low levels of HDL cholesterol -- all characteristics of metabolic syndrome that frequently worsen at menopause. Women should also quit smoking, which has been shown to be much more dangerous for them than men, and address any mental health issues, such as depression.

Aspirin is recommended for some women as a preventative measure. Find out who might benefit on the next page.

For more information on coronary heart disease, see:
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.