menopause increases the risk of cardio-vascular disease. Women are encouraged to speak with their health care provider about the safety and options for hor-mone replacement therapy, including bioidentical hormones. Naturopathic doctors have the unique ability to spend more time with their patients and focus on prevention and management of potential risk factors. “Ninety percent of Canadians have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease,” says Dr. Sonia Anand, MD, a Professor of Medicine at McMaster University and a researcher at the Heart and Stroke Foundation.(8) This high-lights the importance of educating both ourselves as healthcare practitioners, as well as our patients about these known risk factors so CVD onset or progression can be limited. The most common modifiable risk factors of heart disease include:(6) • Hypertension • Diabetes • Physical inactivity • Smoking • Obesity • Mental health inlcuding depression and anxiety www.Cndoctor.ca UNDERSTANDING THE RISK FACTORS PREVENTION, MANAGEMENT AND ONGOING EMPOWERMENT Jennifer Mieres, M.D., a cardiologist and professor of cardiology and popula-tion health in New York, noted that “eighty percent of heart disease is pre-ventable.”(9) Ongoing education and inclusion in research is important so women are able to recognize the symp-toms as well as when to seek appropriate medical attention. Though the inclusion of women in research has come a long way, there is still an under representation of women in research trials important for the cre-ation of guidelines for CVD diagnosis and management. Two thirds of the clinical research on heart disease and stroke use male subjects.(10) In 2018, Heart & Stroke began investing in the inclusion of women in heart and brain research, and have since seen great re-sults. For more information, visit The Heart and Stroke Foundation website. Photo: © LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS / Adobe Stock Another important aspect of preven-tion and management is the inclusion of women in cardiac rehabilitation pro-grams, where only half of women are likely to attend compared to men. These programs are offered to individuals for either primary prevention of heart dis-ease (in the presence of risk factors) or recovery from and management of dis-ease. Included is a visit with a cardiolo-gist for screening and risk stratification, ongoing support from nurses, dietitians and four months of supervised exercise rehabilitation classes with qualified ex-ercise professionals. They are paramount for education, restoring cardiovascular function, improving quality of life and prevention of a second event. Naturopathic medicine can play a role as well. In addition to a thorough assess-ment, pertinent physical exams and di-agnostic testing, naturopathic doctors provide guidance for the following life-style factors to reduce any existing risk factors: • Nutrient-dense food • Physical activity CONTINUED ON PAGE 21 January/February 2021 Chiropractic and Naturopathic Doctor 17
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor January-February 2021: Page 17
