Patna: Women are often the ones who keep a family’s health on track, but doctors say their hearts are frequently left waiting. Ahead of World Heart Day on Tuesday, specialists urged women to give greater priority to heart health, warning that smoking and second-hand smoke remain overlooked cardiovascular risks.Doctors said women often put their health behind family responsibilities, work and caregiving, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. While hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and stress are recognised risks, tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke often remain underreported among women.According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2016-17, 2% of Indian women aged 15 years and above were current tobacco smokers. Doctors said the figure may not reflect the actual extent of smoking among women because many hesitate to disclose the habit due to social stigma.“Women’s heart health deserves the same focus on tobacco exposure as every other major cardiovascular risk factor. There is no safe cigarette — smoking damages the heart and blood vessels, and complete cessation remains the goal,” said Dr Aijaz Ilmi, senior consultant and head, preventive wellness and metabolic diseases, Pacific OneHealth Hospital, New Delhi.He said the risk extended to non-smokers. “Second-hand smoke can also expose non-smoking women to tobacco-related cardiovascular risks at home, workplaces and other public spaces,” Ilmi said.Dr Sanjeev Kumar, head of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery at AIIMS Patna, said smoking among women was a concern, particularly in rural areas where bidi and hookah use is common. “A large number of women smoke, especially in rural areas. Many come late with health problems and often hide their smoking habit because of social stigma,” he said.Kumar said long-term nicotine exposure weakens the inner lining of arteries and contributes to heart and peripheral vascular diseases. “They have no option but to quit in order to remain healthy,” he said.Associate director, cardiology, Jai Prabha Medanta, Dr Shamshad Alam said women often did not disclose tobacco use during consultations. “Women come with in-laws or other family members and do not reveal their smoking habit as it is considered taboo. Elderly women from villages may tell us about bidi smoking, but those in their 40s and 50s, especially from urban areas, often hide it,” he said.Alam also pointed to a gap in medical history-taking. “Several doctors too tend to overlook smoking while taking the history of female patients,” he said.Dr Mohsin Wali, Padma Shri awardee, senior consultant and director, internal medicine, Pacific OneHealth Hospitals, New Delhi, and former senior consultant cardiologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, called for comprehensive smoking cessation programmes, particularly for women facing barriers to seeking help.Doctors advised women to check blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, maintain a healthy weight, exercise, sleep adequately and follow a balanced diet. For smokers, they stressed that quitting tobacco is among the most effective ways to reduce cardiovascular risk.
