Heart Diseases Becoming Common Now Among Young Women: Experts

The increased risk is driven by high prevalence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is also a significant concern among women, increasing the risk of heart disease

New Delhi: While males are generally more susceptible to heart disease than females, heart issues are now becoming increasingly common among young and premenopausal women in the country, health experts said on Sunday.

World Heart Day is observed every year on September 29 to raise awareness about the leading cause of death in India. The theme this year is ‘Use Heart for Action’. According to the ‘Global Burden of Disease Study’, heart disease is a leading cause of fatality among Indian women, accounting for over 17 per cent of deaths.

“Women are generally protected till menopause. However, we are oftentimes nowadays, finding a lot of young women who are premenopausal, having heart attack, heart disease and various other heart problems,” Dr S Ramakrishnan, professor in the cardiology department at AIIMS-New Delhi, said.

The increased risk is driven by high prevalence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is also a significant concern among women, increasing the risk of heart disease. PCOS is a highly prevalent health condition seen in women nowadays. It is characterised by weight gain, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes to diabetic conditions, excess of androgens.

According to Dr Arati Adhe Rojekar, Consultant Gynaecology at P.D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mahim, said that PCOS has a major impact on blood vessels and also on the heart.

“Obesity itself contributes to cardiac conditions by elevating bad cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the body. Insulin resistance and excess androgens too elevate the cardiac risks,” she added.