3 Natural Ways to Reduce Female Heart Attack Risk

Statin drugs which lower 'bad' cholesterol and raise 'good' cholesterol are a God-send for helping the majority of the populace prevent plaque from forming on artery walls and thereby reducing risks of heart attack and stroke. There is one drawback, however, regarding females and statin drugs: The majority of testing and research done with statin drugs has been conducted on males, leaving the statistics for how well statin drugs work (if at all) for females virtually unknown. Fortunately there are a few proven, natural ways for women to lower their cholesterol and thereby reducing the risk of female heart attack.

Take a Walk

Females who walk regularly lower their risk of heart attack by one-third, according to a study conducted by Harvard scientists. Brisk walking improves the ability of blood vessels to expand and contact. Plus walking activates enzymes called lipoprotein lipase, which lower blood fats called triglycerides.

Any amount of regular, brisk walking lowers females heart attack risk, but always aim for a goal of walking more days each week than not, with an ultimate goal of walking 30 minutes every day.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The jury is still out on which source of omega-3 supplement is best: fish oil or krill oil, however the jury does agree on an omega-3 supplement being needed each day to reduce the risk of female heart attack. Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA significantly lower the risk of female heart attack by nearly one-third. A daily dose of fish oil or krill oil can increase 'good' HDL cholesterol while reducing the 'bad' LDL cholesterol. Plus the oil from either source discourages inflammation from forming in the arteries, which helps prevent plaque buildup. 300-900 mgs daily of fish oil or krill oil supplement daily will help reduce female heart attack risk. Talk to your doctor about the amount that is right for you.

Cranberry Juice Reduce Risk

Cranberry juice is packed with flavonoids, compounds which boost HDL levels within a few weeks. Cranberry juice also helps keeps arteries flexible and free from plaque buildup. Two to three glasses of cranberry juice each day seems to do the trick. As an added health bonus for females, cranberry juice has long been used as a home remedy to reduce the occurrences of urinary tract infections, the acid in cranberry juice kills the bacteria that causes the infections.