Does esotrogen protect women?

Dr. Naresh Trehan, Director of Delhi's Escorts Heart Institute cautions that urban Indian women are now increasingly leading the very lifestyle that experts have been warning men to leave behind for ages.

"As you try to balance a demanding career with your household activities, your stressful lifestyle erodes the heart-healthy advantage of the oestrogen hormone," explains Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, President of the Heart Care Foundation of India.

Furthermore, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that Indian women have a genetic predisposition to heart trouble, together with most of the subcontinent's population and may be the fastest-growing category of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) patients!

You may think that you are in shape and even get a regular physical done to reaffirm this. But these so-called 'health package tests' may not be enough, especially if fall in a high-risk category.

Dr. J.P.S. Sawhney, Senior Cardiologist at Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi warns, "The standard medical tests include screening of blood sugar, blood pressure and lipid profile; this doesn't include a an echocardiogram (ECG) or treadmill test, which are vital for those who fall in the high-risk category."

Are you at risk?

If either of your parents has had a cardiac disease - before 65 for your mother, 55 for your father - then your risk doubles.

Even if a sibling has a stroke before the age of 55 years, then your risk skyrockets four times over. Research conducted at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine speculates this may be explained by brothers and sisters sharing not only genes, but also the same environment growing up.

Your risk of having a heart disease increases in case;

• You lead a sedentary life.
• Have passed menopause.
• You smoke.