Health diet decreases female risk of heart attack

Women who choose a healthy diet, only drink average amounts of alcohol, take adequate amounts of exercise and maintain a healthy weight significantly lower their risk of heart attack. The conclusion, which includes non-smokers, was published in a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine .
Heart disease is a major cause of disability and death amongst women. The authors of the study commented: “Despite a lower incidence in women, coronary heart disease related mortality and the percentage of sudden deaths from coronary heart disease without previous symptoms is higher and the trend of decline in incidence is slower than in men.”
The authors studied over 24,000 women. They reportedly said: “We derived four major dietary patterns: ‘healthy’ (vegetables, fruits and legumes), ‘Western/Swedish’ (red meat, processed meat, poultry, rice, pasta, eggs, fried potatoes and fish), ‘alcohol’ (wine, liquor, beer and some snacks) and ‘sweets’ (sweet baked goods, candy, chocolate, jam and ice cream).”
The researchers reportedly concluded: “Our study findings indicate that healthy dietary behaviours are present in the population. These dietary behaviours together with a healthy lifestyle and body weight may prevent most myocardial infarction events.”