Researchers from the UK have discovered that mothers with more than one or two children are at a high risk for heart attack.
They also found that mums with five or more kids are at an even higher risk. Basically, the more kids you have, the higher your risk, says the study.
Why Are Mums with more Kids at a High Risk for Heart Attack?
Having a small family can actually lower your risk of heart attack.
The authors of the study share that pregnancy and childbirth can put a strain on the heart. And coupled with the stress of taking care of kids and raising a large family, this makes mums with more kids much more prone to heart attacks.
They conducted their study on 8,000 white and African-American mums aged 45 to 64.
According to them, having more children can increase the risk of heart disease by 30%. It also increases the risk of stroke by 25%, and heart failure by 17% compared to those with one to two children.
Lead researcher Dr. Clare Oliver-Williams, from Cambridge University, said: “The number of children a woman has had is an easy sign of whether a woman is at greater risk [of heart attacks]. We know that pregnancy and childbirth put a tremendous strain on the heart and raising children can be very stressful, too.”
“We don’t want to add to the stress people have in their everyday lives but equip them with the knowledge to do something about it.”
However, the authors of the study are not advocating women to have fewer kids. According to them, they hope that the findings would urge parents of large families to take better care of their health, particularly through diet and exercise.
Keep Your Hearts Healthy, Mums!
Regardless of how large of a family you have, keeping your heart healthy is very important!
Being unhealthy or having a poor diet can cause you to have a high risk for heart attack. Here are some reminders to keep your health in tip top shape!
- Exercise! Dedicate at least an hour each day to exercise. You don’t have to do intense Crossfit workouts; just an hour of biking or walking can do a lot of good.
- Stress can cause a high risk of heart attack. Try to avoid getting too worked up or stressed out. Take some time to relax and recuperate whenever you feel tired.
- Eat healthy! There is truth to the old saying that “you are what you eat.” Eating unhealthy food can cause countless health problems.
- Get enough sleep. Sleep not only helps your body recuperate, but it also keeps your heart healthy. Try to get at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep each day.
- Floss your teeth! Recent studies have shown that gum disease can cause bacteria to get into your bloodstream and increase your levels of C-reactive protein. This type of protein is a marker for inflammations in the blood vessels and can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Source: New York Post