Guest Author - Sharon Bejin

Discussion about heart and mind connection has been around for awhile now. Women who are so busy juggling their responsibilities in life may not have heard of such a connection. Combine heart and mind with major stress onto women who have narrow blood vessels and it is no wonder that women are more susceptible to heart disease.

Women’s blood vessels are smaller than men’s, putting them at higher risk for heart disease. When heart disease strikes women, they are at greater risk of dying than men. If they survive, they are also at higher risk if undergoing an angioplasty or bypass surgery.

Heart disease in women is becoming better understood than in past years, although awareness has a long way to go. Society has been conditioned to think of heart disease as a man’s disease that consist of chest pains along with pain in the left arm. These may be symptoms of a heart attack for males but not quite the same for females. Women have a wide range of symptoms before and during a heart attack: flu-like symptoms, back pain or shoulder pain to name a few.

During menopause years, women are at greater risk for heart disease and stroke. Some women may not even realize they have heart disease until it is too late. Women are so busy taking care of everybody else in their family that they tend to put their own needs and concerns aside for the sake of others.

In childhood girls are taught to be nice, share, help out, and care for others. These same girls became women and their need to please and do for others became so engrained that if they didn’t put others first, guilt set in.

Sharing, helping, caring, and being nice are all great qualities to have, but not when one puts their own health on back burner; many women are sacrificing their own well being for others on a daily basis.

When women begin to say "no" to others instead of always trying to please everyone around them, their hearts will benefit. Many middle-aged women who are going through menopause are also raising a family or dealing with aging parents. Women need to realize there is nothing selfish about putting themselves at the top of their own priority list.

If women take time for themselves, pay attention to things that are not working in their lives, and accept help from others when needed, unwanted stress in their lives may diminish. Women should to be vigilant about keeping their hearts healthy and not hesitate to see a doctor if they have any concerns. And remember, the heart and mind are connected!