Everyone has a limit to what they can endure, even women. For this reason, it's important for every woman to know and understand how heart disease can effect her, whether now, or in the future. Five years ago, Rula, then 36, began an exercise programme because she had been inactive and gained some weight. After every workout, I'd feel discomfort in my chest, which I attributed to my previous inactivity. After three months of my being persistent and stubborn about not going to see a doctor, I suffered my first heart attack.
Cardiovascular disease includes diseases of the heart and blood vessels which develop over time.
The arteries that supply the heart or brain with blood become blocked due to a buildup of cells, fat and cholesterol. This buildup is called plaque. When this happens, you can suffer from a heart attack or stroke. HD affects many women, mainly post menopause, but not exclusively, and it kills more women than all cancers combined. Part of this confusion stems from the fact that women develop heart problems later in life than men do, around seven or eight years later.