Doctors traditionally look for four main things when checking for heart disease. One, which is the leading cause of death worldwide, high blood pressure also known as hypertension, other include high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking. However, a new study suggests that many women are still at risk for heart attacks and strokes, even if they don't have any of these classic problems. The study highlights that doctors may be missing a key danger sign in these women: inflammation. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, about 44% of all women in the U.S. which is over 60 million, already have some kind of heart disease. It's the number one cause of death for women of all ages in the U.S. In 2023 alone, it caused the deaths of nearly 305,000 women, which is about 1 out of every 5 female deaths. Worryingly, only about half of U.S. women actually know that heart disease is their biggest killer. What Contribute To Heart Diseases? The research, published in the European Heart Journal, found that inflammation in the body is strongly linked to heart issues in women who are otherwise considered low-risk. Researchers used a simple blood test that checks for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). A high hsCRP number suggests the person has chronic, or long-term, inflammation. The study looked at over 12,500 healthy American women who did not smoke and did not have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes. Over 30 years, women with high hsCRP levels were much more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or need heart surgery. One of the study authors stated that inflammation, measured by the hsCRP test, is at least as good (if not better) at predicting future heart attack and stroke risk as cholesterol is. Experts explain that inflammation is a key force behind heart disease because it helps plaque form inside blood vessels and causes that plaque to become unstable and rupture. Should You Get Tested for Inflammation? This study raises a big question: Should doctors routinely check everyone's inflammation levels? Some cardiologists feel the hsCRP test could catch a hidden risk, especially in women who don't have the typical warning signs. If doctors don't measure inflammation, they won't treat the risk. Why You Shouldn’t Get Testes For Inflammation? Other experts caution that not every woman needs to rush to get tested. Most heart disease is still explained by the old risk factors like smoking and high cholesterol. Also, a high hsCRP number can simply cause worry, and many people with a high score will never develop heart disease. They suggest that other tools, like a coronary calcium scan which directly looks for hidden plaque, might be more helpful for some patients. Some warning signs of an heart attack happen to be early periods, early menopause, Polycystic ovary syndrome, gestational diabetes, preterm delivery, etc. What Lifestyle Habits Help Reduce Inflammation? Regardless of whether you get the test or not, the good news is that the best ways to lower inflammation are the same things doctors already recommend for a healthy heart:ExerciseHealthy eatingGetting enough sleepAvoiding smoking
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