4. Diabetes: A Sugar-Coated Risk for Afib in Women
Diabetes, a condition that affects how your body uses blood sugar or glucose, has been widely recognized as a risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases, including Afib. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 34 million people in the United States have diabetes, and approximately one in five don’t know they have it. The question then arises, why does diabetes act as a magnet for Afib in women?
When blood sugar levels are persistently high, as seen in diabetes, it can damage blood vessels and nerves that control the heart. This damage can interfere with the heart’s normal electrical activity and lead to Afib.
Furthermore, high blood sugar can cause the buildup of fatty deposits in the walls of the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. This can limit the blood flow to the heart, leading to conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease, which further increase the risk of Afib.
Beyond these direct effects, diabetes is often accompanied by other health conditions that can contribute to Afib. For instance, people with diabetes are often overweight or obese, have high cholesterol levels, and may have kidney disease. Each of these conditions individually can increase the likelihood of developing Afib.
Managing diabetes requires a holistic approach that includes regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, maintaining a healthy diet, staying physically active, and taking prescribed medications as needed. By managing diabetes effectively, women can significantly decrease their risk of Afib and improve their overall health.
In the next section, we’ll examine how an often overlooked yet crucial factor – sleep – contributes to the onset of Afib in women. (4)
