Heart Health for Women: Maintaining Wellness, What to Watch For, and Heart Health Metrics

Heart health is important for everyone, but women face unique concerns and experience symptoms differently than men. Understanding these differences can make a big impact on your well-being and help you identify warning signs that are often overlooked. Read on to discover how women’s wellness connects to heart health, key symptoms to watch for, and essential health metrics. Discover how adding Kaneka Ubiquinol^® to your wellness program can help support your heart.

Women’s Health and the Heart: Understanding the Connection

Aging comes with many biological changes that apply to us all, no matter our gender. As we get older, our bodies don’t produce ubiquinol as efficiently, and this can throw off the balance between free radicals (molecules seeking electrons) and antioxidants (molecules that can share electrons without damaging themselves). If these are imbalanced, oxidative stress occurs, which is linked to cellular damage and premature aging.

But that’s not all: Over time, oxidative stress can impact organ function and the body’s overall wellness, including heart health. While oxidative stress is a normal part of aging, it can especially impact women during their 40s, 50s, and beyond. Hormonal changes and the decline in estrogen during the menopausal stages is associated with increased oxidative stress seen in post-menopausal women.¹

If you’re a woman thinking about your cardiovascular health, consider these facts that highlight the importance of maintaining healthy habits and how women’s health and the heart go hand in hand:

• The heart is a critical organ, as it pumps the blood, delivers oxygen to muscles and tissues, and rids your body of toxins
• The heart is one of the most energy-demanding organs in the body and has a large number of mitochondria²
• The increase in oxidative stress known to occur in post-menopausal women can impact heart health
• Maintaining heart health becomes even more important with age.

These facts are just a snapshot and do not encompass the whole picture of women’s heart health. In fact, the most important thing we can do to support our cardiovascular health is to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle that includes a well-balanced diet of nutrient-dense foods, regular exercise, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption. Your family history and other factors — such as mental and emotional health and whether you are post-menopausal — also influence your heart health. Understanding the science of women’s health and the factors that impact heart health is the first step in protecting your cardiovascular health and aging better.

Read More: Want to Learn More About Your Cardiovascular System? Start Here

Heart Health Signs Women Should Watch For

While the lifestyle factors for maintaining cardiovascular health apply to everyone, some heart health signs manifest differently in women versus men. This means it’s important to understand the unique signs that could indicate a problem or less-than-ideal heart health. If you’re a woman, be aware of the following symptoms that might indicate a heart issue:

• Chest discomfort or ache
• Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat
• Pain in the abdomen and back
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Excessive fatigue that won’t go away
• Consistent heartburn
• Pain in one or both arms

Being aware of these common signs that may indicate a concern for women’s heart health is crucial to protecting your health and cardiovascular system through all of life’s biological changes. If you have any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 right away or go to the nearest emergency room.

What to Ask Your Doctor: Metrics and Health Goals

When it comes to your well-being and maintaining cardiovascular health — particularly as we age — we can’t do it alone. Part of taking care of your heart health is understanding the metrics and numbers to look for during regular and specialty doctors’ visits, like the cardiologist. Remember that heart health involves many factors and requires professional guidance, so it’s best to seek professional advice for your own personal needs. Still, below are some metrics to consider and healthy ranges to aim for:

Blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing through your arteries while your heart contracts and relaxes. Keeping blood pressure in the normal range is important for cardiovascular health. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps maintain healthy levels, as well as minimizing alcohol.

General goal: Less than 120/80 mm Hg

LDL Cholesterol

LDL cholesterol, often called “bad” cholesterol, can affect the function of blood vessels. Talk to your doctor about monitoring your LDL level to keep it in a healthy range.

General goal: Less than 100 mg/dL

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. Keeping them within a healthy range helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.

General goal: Less than 150 mg/dL

Blood Sugar

Blood sugar, or blood glucose, refers to the sugar found in the blood that is used to provide energy for the body. Maintaining blood sugar levels within a healthy range supports cardiovascular wellness and helps reduces the risk of developing diabetes. The A1C test, also known as hemoglobin A1c or HbA1c, measures average blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months.

General goal:
Between 70-99 mg/dL of glucose in the blood 
For healthy people, a normal A1C level is below 5.7%

These goals are general recommendations for healthy adults. Additionally, there are other metrics that are useful for understanding heart health, such as heart rate variability (HRV), resting heart rate (RHR), heart rate recovery (HRR), stress levels, and sleep quality. Be sure to seek advice from your doctor or licensed health care provider to tailor goals to your unique needs.

Read More: Explore Recommended Health Screenings for Your Age

Lifestyle Factors That Support Heart Wellness

Building a heart-healthy lifestyle means building habits that support your cardiovascular system. These lifestyle changes are essential to supporting your overall health, promoting everything from cellular wellness to healthy aging to overall mobility:

• Eat better: Focusing on your nutrition and eating a balanced diet promotes wellness from the inside out
• Move more: Daily exercise, including stretching, helps keep your cells healthy and your body agile for years to come
• Manage stress: Keeping stress levels at bay is not always easy, but it’s crucial to your overall health
• Get a good night’s rest consistently: Consistently getting enough sleep helps your brain process information and supports the health of your cells, muscles, and whole body
• Maintain a community: Leaning into and strengthening social connections supports your physical and mental health

Read More: Want More Heart Health Advice? Start With These 10 Tips

Ubiquinol: Your Heart Health Ally

Sometimes, a supplement is just what you need to boost your wellness routine. As we age, the body’s natural ubiquinol production declines, contributing to oxidative stress, which can cause cellular damage and premature aging. However, a Kaneka Ubiquinol^® supplement can give your body the antioxidant support it needs as you age, ensuring that you maintain healthy ubiquinol levels to support cellular energy production and cardiovascular function. Backed by rigorous testing and over 85 clinical studies in numerous health areas, supplements containing Kaneka Ubiquinol^® provide you with ubiquinol you can trust.

Read More: Learn More About Ubiquinol in the Body

Stay Heart Smart By Adding Kaneka Ubiquinol^® to Your Lifestyle

Kaneka Ubiquinol^® offers foundational nutritional support for your heart health during all stages of life, but especially for women as their female biology changes over time. Kaneka is the only U.S.-based manufacturer of ubiquinol, and it makes supporting your heart health (as well as your overall health) simple and easy.

If you’re ready to take your heart health to the next level, start our Healthy Heart Challenge.