According to a study in Harvard Health Publishing although statins are suggested for men to reduce their risk of heart disease, women are better off focusing on modifying their habits. As reported by UPI News, researchers reviewed the health records of 8,512 men and women aged 40 to 79 for the study.
Even though none of the participants had ever been diagnosed with heart disease, a risk calculator indicated that 2,924 persons might benefit from statins due to increased risk. The researchers could begin their work once the potential of each man and woman receiving statin medicine and guidance to reduce weight, eat healthier, and exercise more was established.
Researchers discovered that men were prescribed statins at a 20% greater rate than women. To lose weight, women should reduce their caloric consumption by 11%, increase their exercise frequency by 38%, and reduce their overall calorie intake by 27%.
“Our findings highlight the importance of raising awareness among medical professionals in order to disseminate the most recent guidelines for maintaining cardiovascular health for both genders,” says the study’s lead author, Dr. Prima Wulandari, a clinical researcher in cardiology at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.
This study used NHANES data gathered in the United States between 2017 and 2020. Using a validated risk calculator, 2,924 of 8,512 people with no history of cardiovascular disease were determined to be at an elevated risk of developing CVD, hence candidates for statin medication.
The results for 2,924 individuals were modified to account for statin drug use, weight loss, activity, reduced salt intake, and reduced fat or calorie consumption. Age, cardiovascular risk factors, body mass index, resting heart rate, depression score, and educational level were all considered in the statistical analysis.
According to the data, males were prescribed statins at a 20% higher rate than women. Women should reduce their calorie intake by 27% and increase their activity frequency by 38%. Women were advised to cut their salt intake by 27% and calorie/fat intake by 11% more frequently than men.
According to Dr. Wulandari, “following the completion of our inquiry, we did a literature analysis to explain our findings. As a result, we know that the misconception that women have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than males play a role in the gender difference in health care recommendations.
Our findings highlight the need to increase health professional understanding to guarantee that both men and women have access to the most up-to-date information on how to preserve heart health.”
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommends at least 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week, or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical exercise per week, or an equivalent combination, to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
A healthy diet should include plant-based foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts. Consume no more than 5 grams of salt every day. The risk of cardiovascular disease can be lowered by lowering extra body fat, which lowers blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and the possibility of developing diabetes. Individual statin recommendations will differ based on age and cardiovascular disease risk.
