By Lubna Abdel-Aziz Whoever called them the weaker sex must have his head examined. Not only do they rock the cradle, women rock. From Angela Merkel to Condoleezza Rice, from JK Rawlings to Oprah Winfrey, from Hillary Clinton to Sarah Palin, women not only share the headlines with men , they often dominate them. Once upon a time long, long ago, women stood side by side with their men. Half-clad and nimble, they hunted and fished; they climbed trees and tilled fields. Carrying a child was no deterrent. They did it all with equal ability as their male counterparts. When the patriarchal society was established during in the Bronze Age (3,500 BC), they gave women a kitchen and locked her up. Later they gave her a needle and thread and a rocking chair. Tired of cooking, sewing and rocking, for 50 centuries women got off their chairs and out of the kitchen. They took the first steps down the path of their true destiny. To make up for lost time they rushed, full speed ahead, to challenge men in every arena, be it education, science, technology, business or politics. French writer Simone de Beauvoir said it best: "One is not born a woman, one becomes one!" A life of stress and strain awaited them, therefore is it any wonder that they would also adopt man's leading ailments! Cardiovascular disease has been the number one cause of death and disability for men during the last decades. It is now the number one fatal disease for women. Although men have a higher rate of cardiovascular disease than women, the risk for women is rapidly approaching that of men. Some studies indicate that hormone replacement therapy, appears to contribute to the escalating number of patients. What about breast cancer you ask? Is that not a woman's worst nightmare? What about ovarian cancer and lung cancer? They are killers alright, but heart disease has overtaken them all among women. According to the American Heart Association: "Every minute that goes by, another female dies of cardiovascular disease, which encompasses coronary artery disease, stroke, high blood pressure, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease and cardiac arrhythmia." There was a time when women paid no heed to their heart, except in matters of love and romance. Not only was it considered a male disease, but if at all, an older woman's condition. But younger women are being struck by coronary disease and the ratio is roughly comparable to the numbers who die of breast cancer in the same age group. While the predisposing factors for acquiring heart disease are the same for both sexes -- smoking, obesity, diabetes and hypertension -- the symptoms are not. Men experience symptoms of crushing chest pain, feeling of doom, pain down the left arm, women present with unusual symptoms; they may experience abdominal discomfort or indigestion, nausea, fatigue, neck and shoulder pain, shortness of breath and sweating similar to hot flashes. Because they may not be familiar symptoms. Women are not likely to seek medical attention leading to the devastating number of death per one minute of heart disease. This is an alarming figure considering that women make up at least half the human race. Researcher Judy Lichtman of the Yale School of Public Health in a recent study, noted that women's actual symptoms differed from the "Hollywood Heart attack." They wished they had known that "symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain, abdominal discomfort that was easy to mistake for indigestion, or unusual fatigue, could signal a heart problem." "Young women mistakenly assume that they are not at risk for heart problems." Had they known, they would have responded to their symptoms sooner. Now that we know, what do we need to do in order to prevent a heart attack before its onset? A change in lifestyle is the first step in the right direction. Build up of plaque in the arteries (atherosclerosis) is for the most part a result of high cholesterol and fat diet. Avoid fried and fatty foods. A heart-healthy diet includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grain products, and low in saturated fat, trans-fat and cholesterol. You can still eat your red meat, just make it lean and do not exceed a portion of 3 ounces (about the size of a deck of cards). Vary your meats, eat more sea food, and skin your chicken. Broil, grill, stir fry or sauté any food with a small amount of vegetable oil. You have a wide variety of foods to choose from. Use your imagination and choose carefully. With the Holy month of Ramadan upon us, those who fast have to be careful about "dumping" their Iftar (breakfast) meal. Eat slowly and sparingly. Break the fast with a small meal, then perhaps another small meal in three hours or so. Eating at a fast and furious pace is in itself a risk factor, and may precipitate a heart attack especially following a day-long fast. This is your heart my lady, and you are the heart of your family. Watch your waist; not only for aesthetic reasons, but fat around the abdominal organs can contribute to clogged arteries. Get physical! Activity in any form can reduce stress and lower your blood pressure. Cut down on salt and fats. Increase your coloured fruit and vegetables. Above all say NO to cigarettes. Within a year of quitting smoking you will reduce your risk of heart attack by 50%. If you are an avid coffee drinker, breathe easily. "The overall death rate was lower among the coffee drinkers," according to a recent study published in June 2008 by Esther Lopez-Garcia, PhD, at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid School of Medicine together with researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health. So -- drink on! A regular check up is encouraged especially for diabetes. Increase in the levels of blood sugar signal a heightened risk. "Women with diabetes basically all have heart attacks," says Dr. John B. Buse of the American Diabetes Association. While genes do play a role in the development of heart disease, you can certainly reduce your risk, and perhaps eliminate it, if you maintain your blood cholesterol level below 150. There is a spark of heavenly firse in every woman's heart. Perhaps it lies dormant most of the time, but when challenged, it beams and blazes, energizing and emboldening her. Never underestimated a woman or a woman's heart. And what is better than wisedoom? Womman And what is better than womman? Nothyng! Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343 -- 1400)
