Women’s heart health discussed

LUDINGTON — A full house of about 60 people gathered in the meeting room at the Ludington Area Senior Center Monday for a discussion of women’s heart health with Amanda Overmyer, MD.

Dr. Overmyer emphasized that heart disease should be a primary health concern for everyone. She noted that it is even more prevalent among women than men, contrary to the persistent assumption that it is a primarily male disease.

She discussed the risk factors for women in developing heart disease and explained that not all of the “typical” symptoms of a heart attack occur for women as they might for men.   She emphasized that once a person has heart disease, they will always have it, and while it can be controlled and treated, it cannot be reversed.

“The earlier we adopt a preventive lifestyle, the better,“  Dr. Overmyer advised.

“The best approach is to try to reduce the risk factors of heart disease, which means preventing plaque build-up in the arteries.  This can be done—to the degree possible given each woman’s genetic predisposition to the disease—through healthy lifestyle choices such as a diet that limits fat and through getting enough exercise.”

The Ludington physician recommended at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily, after consulting with a doctor on individual health factors.

She concluded the session by answering a wide variety of questions from the audience.