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CHANDIGARH: Mothers who start breast feeding their children early have 18% less chances of having heart attack and stroke risk as compared to mothers who don’t breast feed, revealed a study by Dr. L.K. Jha a Senior Interventional Cardiologist .

Dr. Jha said that breast feeding has both short term as well as long term benefits to mothers on matters related to cardiovascular health. In short term, it benefits by helping in weight loss, lowering cholesterol, controlling blood pressure and glucose levels after pregnancy .

The study throws light on effects of breast feeding on cardiovascular system in which 29,000 middle aged women has been analysed. The study also highlights benefits of breast feeding in reducing risk of cardiovascular disease such as stroke and heart attack in mothers by as much as 18 percent.

Dr Jha further informed that it has been seen that mothers who breast feed 2 children would double protection themselves as compared to those who breast feed only one.

“Pregnancy changes a woman's metabolism dramatically as she stores fat to provide the energy necessary for her baby's growth and for breastfeeding once the baby is born. Breastfeeding could eliminate the stored fat faster and more completely. Hence reducing CVD risk later in life .

Breast feeding can contribute significantly in reducing burden of heart disease among women. Women are more prone to risk of death from heart attack as compared to men, mainly because of lack of awareness on heart disease among women.”

Ignoring early signs of heart attack such as chest pain, shortness in breath can lead to heart disease becoming more complex which is hard to treat, pointed out Dr Jha.

