Women have learnt to prioritise their families’ health over their own (I’m looking at you mothers and wives of the world). It is not unusual for women to defer doctor visits or make light of their own health problems. “It’s just chest pain. It will probably go away,” is something we have all heard growing up (and a habit we possibly inherited) from our own moms. The notion that women don’t suffer from heart ailments has never helped either. But today there is enough scientific evidence that suggests that women are equally at risk of developing problems like cardiac arrests. What’s more? Heart problems kill more women than breast cancer does.

The sudden death of actress Sridevi, which was earlier attributed to cardiac arrest, made women sit up and pay attention to their heart health. The fact that a life can be snuffed out in minutes is scary but very much a possibility if you take heart health too lightly. Here’s how heart diseases affect women differently from men. Dr Zakia Khan, Interventional Cardiologist, Fortis Hospital, Kalyan prescribes some dos and don’ts of keeping your heart in good shape.

1 Skipping breakfast

Most housewives and working mothers spend the morning hours preparing breakfast and packing dabbas for the family. The morning rush makes them forget about their own nutrition and end up missing the most important meal of the day. Dr Khan says that irregular food consumption impacts one’s health. Skipping breakfast can also harden your arteries and clog them up with plaque, setting stage for future heart problems. So be good to yourself and eat a ‘hearty’ breakfast first thing in the morning.

2 Not exercising enough

Stuck between balancing domestic and professional lives, an Indian woman’s life can hardly be called sedentary. And no matter how strenuous, doing household chores and zipping between home and office don’t count as exercise. To maintain good heart health, it’s important to take out some time out of your busy schedule exclusively for exercise. You need to a combination of moderate and vigorous intensity workouts every day.

3 Not eating healthy fats

Nature didn’t create all fats equally. Some are slightly better than the others. So there’s no reason why you should fear them all. While bad fats like lard, hydrogenated vegetable oil and trans fats can harm your heart, good fats do exactly the opposite. So include good fats like oily fish, avocado, walnuts, olive oil, flax seeds, etc. “Eating a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids should be an important element in every woman’s nutritional plan,” says Dr Khan.

4 Not undergoing regular screening

Your reluctance to get regular check-ups could endanger your life. Most women are oblivious to their own health problems since don’t go for routine screenings. “It is important to be aware of one’s genetic risk factors for heart diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. It is important for those susceptible to undergo regular screenings to rule out these risk factors, so an optimum plan of care can be chalked by your physician,” says Dr Khan.

5 Not allowing yourself some ‘me’ time

When was the last time you did what you like? Family life can be demanding and the pressure to be a superwoman can be tremendous. But remember to take some time for yourself unwind and do things that you find joy in. Dr Khan says that taking out some ‘me’ time for yourself could do your heart a lot of good. It reduces your stress and gives you some moments of genuine joy. Whether it is catching up with a friend or spending time at the bookstore alone, be sure to dedicate some moments of the day entirely to yourself.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 28, 2018 06:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).