Heart attacks claim more women’s lives than men’s every year. Researchers have now identified a unique risk factor that affects women more severely than men. It’s known as divorce. Divorced women experience heart attacks at a significantly higher rate than those who remain married, and even subsequent marriages may not alleviate the risk. So, let’s delve deeper into understanding how divorce affects women’s heart health and what steps can be taken to mitigate its impact.
Heart Risk After Divorce: Statistics
A study at Duke University found that divorced women suffer heart attacks at a significantly higher rate than those who stay married. With two or more divorces, a woman’s heart attack risk nearly doubles. And even when a woman remarries after a divorce, her heart attack risk remains higher.
According to Matthew Dupre, a researcher who teaches medicine at Duke, “we have long known that people who are divorced suffer more health consequences.” Nevertheless, this is one of the first studies to investigate the cumulative effect of divorce on individuals’ health over an extended period.
The study’s 15,827 participants, aged between 45 to 80, were surveyed every two years from 1992 to 2010 about their health and marital status. Around one in three participants experienced at least one divorce during the 18-year study.
The Gender Difference
Although men, in general, have a higher risk of heart attacks, the study demonstrated that women fare worse than men after divorce. Men who got divorced had roughly the same risk as those who remained married, with only two or more divorces significantly increasing their heart attack risk.
In contrast to women, remarried men have the same heart attack risk as those who stay married to one spouse. As such, remarriage appears to “rescue” men’s hearts.
Stress and Heart Health
Divorce constitutes a significant stressor, with stress known to adversely affect heart health. The release of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, can raise blood pressure and heart rate. This creates a chronic state of emergency that forces the heart to work harder, ultimately increasing heart attack risks.
Stress management, such as practicing relaxation techniques and seeking psychological support, can be vital to improving heart health following a divorce.
Strengthening Heart Muscles
Many women have been told that cardiovascular and aerobic exercises are heart-healthy. True, they are to a certain extent. However, to prevent sudden cardiac events like heart attacks, women need to focus on improving their heart musculature capacity.
Rather than relying on endurance exercises, women should consider high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to strengthen their heart muscles. HIIT combines short bursts of intense exercise with recovery periods, increasing stamina, strength, and heart muscle power.
Other Lifestyle Factors
Besides exercise, other heart-healthy lifestyle factors can help reduce the increased heart attack risk after divorce. Maintaining a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats is essential. Moreover, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption can further improve heart health.
In Conclusion
While divorce is a challenging and stressful life event, it’s crucial to be mindful of its potential impact on heart health, particularly for women. By focusing on managing stress, exercising appropriately, and maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle, women can mitigate the increased risk of heart attacks after divorce. Awareness of this risk is the first step to protecting heart health and preventing life-threatening cardiac events.
