Is your heart strong enough?

September 29 is World Heart Day and one of our favorite quotes suited for this day is by the Little Prince: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly”. So, is your heart healthy enough to help you see rightly? Today we are talking about heart disease and infertility. Are they correlated? Let's see. Contents: What is a heart disease? Infertility and heart disease Fertility treatments and heart conditions Male infertility Healthy tips to strengthen your heart What is considered a heart disease? Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect the heart and include: Blood vessel disease, such as coronary artery disease Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) Heart problems you're born with (congenital heart defects) Disease of the heart muscle Heart valve disease Symptoms vary depending on the type of the disease, but usually consist of chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness, irregular heartbeats, fatigue, swollen feet and hands. If you experience one or more of the above, you should consult with your cardiologist and seek emergency medical care. Don't forget that some heart conditions are hereditary too, so it's best to tell your doctor immediately your family history. When heart disease is detected early, it is better treated too. Inherited heart conditions: The most common inherited heart conditions are cardiomyopathies and channelopathies. There are people with inherited heart conditions who don’t experience any symptoms and others who develop symptoms like dizziness, palpitations, shortness of breath and blackouts. A palpitation happens when you suddenly become aware of your heartbeat pounding or beating more quickly than usual. Different heart conditions demand different treatments. For example, treatment for an inherited condition may need from changes in your lifestyle and medication to implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). 5 colorful hearts Heart disease and infertility There is some evidence that infertility may cause heart problems later in a woman's life, but not 100% solid yet to be definite about the correlation between these two conditions. Massachusetts General Hospital study that was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, states that women who had experienced infertility had a 16% increased risk of heart failure compared with women who did not have an infertility history. “We are beginning to recognize that a woman’s reproductive history tells a lot about her future risk of heart disease,” says first author Emily Lau, a cardiologist and director of the Menopause, Hormones & Cardiovascular Clinic at MGH. “Whether a woman has difficulty becoming pregnant, what happens during her pregnancies, when she transitions through menopause all influence her risk of heart disease later in life.” Among the 38,528 postmenopausal women studied, 14% of them reported a history of infertility, and over a 15-year follow up period, the researchers noted that infertility was associated with 16% future risk of overall heart failure. The opposite though, meaning if heart disease can affect fertility is not yet researched and confirmed. Heart diseases and fertility treatments. It is not scientifically confirmed if and how fertility treatments can “hurt” a woman’s heart but what it is known is that women who get pregnant with the help of a fertility treatment have a higher risk of problems in pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia (which raises the risk of heart disease in later life). Two people shaping one heart with their hands Male infertility Little is discovered on the correlation between male fertility struggles and heart problems, but the only two studies that have been conducted found none or very weak links between the conditions. The studies only looked at men who experienced infertility but who went on to have children. How to strengthen your heart? You guessed it correctly! Lifestyle changes are again your secret weapon to success. Quit smoking. Did you know that after a year without smoking, the risk of heart disease drops to about half that of a smoker? So, don’t think that because you have already been smoking for some time now it is pointless to quit because you will not see results. Chemicals in tobacco damage the heart and blood vessels. Cigarette smoke reduces the oxygen in the blood, which increases blood pressure and heart rate because the heart has to work harder to supply enough oxygen to the body and brain. And if you felt intimidated by that description, well we made our point! Let’s get physical. The revitalization you are feeling each time you exercise, boosts not only your heart but also your mind. Physical activity helps control your weight, and also reduces the chances of developing other conditions that may put a strain on the heart, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Even a small type of exercise, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or walking to the supermarket rather than driving, can add up to your overall physical fitness. Eat your greens. A heart-healthy eating plan includes: vegetables and fruits, beans or other legumes, lean meats and fish, low-fat or fat-free dairy foods, whole grains and healthy fats, such as olive oil. What you should minimize are sugar, salt, alcohol, processed carbohydrates, and saturated fat. Again the key here is balance. No one suggests never eating salt or sugar, but try to include vegetables, fruit etc. to your daily meals, don’t skip meals and treat yourself with the occasional sweet for reward ;) Maintain a healthy weight. It goes without saying that if you eat healthy and exercise regularly, you will maintain a healthy weight, and where will that help? Reducing weight by just 3% to 5% can help decrease certain fats in the blood (triglycerides), lower blood sugar (glucose) and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Losing even more helps lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol level. Smile more, worry less. Not an easy task, especially if you experience fertility issues, but it is known that infertility causes stress and that stress can hurt your heart too. Physical activity, hobbies, meditation, support groups or any other thing that calms you will be beneficial for strengthening your heart too. If you struggle with infertility there are several support groups you can join, such as Resolve, INCIID, Trio fertility and others. A red smiley face and the word smile written in pink Have you done your yearly check-up? It is important to check every now and then your overall health and especially your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Regular screening will indicate whether or not you are susceptible to heart disease. Take a good night’s sleep. People who don't get enough sleep have a higher risk of obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes and depression. Scientists say that we need at least 8 hours of sleep each night. What many people find also comforting is to take power naps in the afternoon or even while they work, some companies have made nap rooms especially for this cause! Bonus interesting fact! Did you know that you can get sick from a broken heart? So, if you have experienced a broken heart from maybe a difficult breakup and everyone around you made fun of you because it is not real, well joke’s on them! Scientists have confirmed that broken heart syndrome is legit. It is a temporary heart condition that's often brought on by stressful situations and extreme emotions. The condition can also be triggered by a serious physical illness or surgery. People with broken heart syndrome may have sudden chest pain or think they're having a heart attack. Either you are heart broken, or experience fertility struggles or heart conditions, it is important to let others help you. Either it’s your doctor or your loved ones, it makes a big difference when you open up about your problems and your feelings. P.S if you seek where to start your fertility journey, we are here to help. Check the available fertility treatments in Greece, such as IVF and Ovarian Rejuvenation, and let us offer you the ideal fertility journey you deserve. #useheart to receive heart!