Is a Healthy Heart the Key to Keeping Women’s Memories Sharp?

Also known as cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart disease remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in women. The BaleDoneen Method is striving to change that by empowering women with the facts they need to take charge of their health TODAY. Follow these crucial steps to protect your heart and brain health — and please share them with women you care about.

1. Understand the facts. Every 40 seconds, someone in the US has a heart attack or stroke, and every 65 seconds someone develops dementia. The culprit is CVD — and rates are soaring in younger, seemingly healthy people. Another alarming fact: 64% of women who die suddenly from a heart attack were not previously aware that they had CVD, which typically develops silently over many years. That means early detection and optimal treatment are the keys to prevention. As discussed more fully in the new BaleDoneen book, Healthy Heart, Healthy Brain: The Personalized Path to Protect Your Memory, Prevent Heart Attacks and Strokes, and Avoid Chronic Illness, keeping your arteries healthy helps prevent many other devastating or life-threatening conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart failure, diabetes, vision loss, and chronic kidney disease.
2. Be aware of female-specific red flags for cardiovascular risk. Alert your healthcare provider if you have any of these red flags that warn of increased risk for CVD: polycystic ovary disease (PCOS); lupus, psoriasis or other autoimmune disorders; migraine headache with aura; a history of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes during pregnancy; depression; a high stress level; rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory disorders; or bleeding gums. Any of these red flags — or a family history of heart disease, stroke or type 2 diabetes — suggests that you would benefit from a complete BaleDoneen Method assessment of your cardiovascular health.
3. Recognize that risk-factor analysis may leave women dangerously unprotected. A recent study, which analyzed survey data from women, primary care providers and cardiologists, reported that healthcare providers are less likely to assess women’s heart health during annual checkups than men’s, and they frequently underestimate women’s cardiovascular risk as compared to that of risk-matched male patients. Unlike standard care, the BaleDoneen Method doesn’t rely solely on risk factor analysis. We also use laboratory and imaging tests, such as a painless 15-minute, FDA-approved ultrasound scan, to directly check for hidden signs of arterial disease.
4. Get checked for root causes of heart disease. Root causes are conditions that can lead to plaque buildup and inflammation in your arteries: the dangerous duo that can spark a heart attack or stroke. One of the most common is insulin resistance, the root cause of 73% of heart attacks in women and nearly all cases of type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance is also strongly linked to increased risk for memory loss. A recent peer-reviewed BaleDoneen paper has been called “landmark” because it was the first to identify oral bacteria from gum disease as a contributing cause of CVD.
5.  A healthy lifestyle lowers your risk for CVD by 88%. Protect your heart health by following these lifestyle habits: Exercise at least 22 minutes a day with aerobic workouts, after checking with your healthcare provider to make these activities are right for you; avoid sugar-sweetened beverages and exposure to all forms of nicotine; reduce the stress in your life (practicing mindfulness is a great way to dispel tension); and average 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Another powerful benefit of lifting your lifestyle to the next level is a 35% lower risk for memory loss!
6. Healthy gums help prevent heart attacks! If you haven’t seen your dental provider lately, you’re missing out on key screenings and treatments that could help you avoid dangerous health threats, including heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, some forms of cancer and possibly even Alzheimer’s disease. All of these disorders, and many others, have been linked to poor oral health in recent studies. In a recent study of older adults, those who hadn’t seen a dentist in the previous year had a 50% higher death rate during the study period than those who went two or more times annually. Also check out our easy four-step plan to optimize your oral and arterial health and our top ten heart disease prevention tips for women.
7. Save a life. Tell a friend and teach a friend what you learned here today. You could save a life!