Women and Heart Disease Page

Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 3 killers of women. They are two of the many cardiovascular diseases that kill nearly 500,000 women each year. That’s more than the next seven causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. — but it doesn't have to be. (AHA)

What is the Take Care of Yourself Campaign?
Take Care of Yourself is an awareness campaign for women to remind them that heart disease is the #1 killer of women but it doesn't have to be. Take Care of Yourself urges women: talk to your doctor, find out your risk of heart disease, and take action today to lower it. Another important aspect is to Know Your Numbers Brochure

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Why are we having this campaign?
Every woman needs to know about heart disease. One in three women dies of heart disease. Even if it doesn't kill you, heart disease can lead to disability and significantly decreased quality of life.

Many women don't take their risk of heart disease seriously-or-personally. Women often fail to make the connection between risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and their own chance of developing heart disease.

Who are we trying to reach?
The campaign is especially aimed at women ages 40 to 60, the time when a woman's risk of heart disease starts to rise. But its messages are also important for younger women, since heart disease develops gradually and can start at a young age-even in the teenage years. Older women have an interest too-it's never too late to take action to prevent and control the risk factors for heart disease. Even those who have heart disease can improve their heart health and quality of life.

Cigarette and tobacco smoke - Smoker's risk of heart attack is more than twice that of nonsmokers. Smoking is a woman's single biggest risk factor for heart attack.

High blood cholesterol levels - The risk of coronary heart disease rises as blood cholesterol levels increase. A person's cholesterol level is also affected by age, sex, heredity and diet. In addition to your total cholesterol, be sure you know your HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels as these numbers are key indicators of risk for heart disease.

High blood pressure - High blood pressure increases the heart's workload, causing the heart to enlarge and weaken over time. It also increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure. When high blood pressure exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.

Obesity and overweight - People who have excess body fat are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have no other risk factors. Obesity is unhealthy because excess weight increases the strain on the heart. It's directly linked with coronary heart disease because it influences blood pressure, blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and makes diabetes more likely to develop. If you can lose as little as 10 to 20 pounds, you can help lower your heart disease risk.

Physical inactivity - Lack of physical activity is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise plays a significant role in preventing heart and blood vessel disease. Even modest levels of low-intensity physical activity are beneficial if done regularly and long term. Exercise can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity as well as help to lower blood pressure in some people.

Diabetes mellitus - Diabetes seriously increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Even when glucose levels are under control, diabetes seriously increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. More than 80 percent of people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease. If you have diabetes, it's critically important for you to monitor and control any other risk factors you can.

Heart Healthy Recipes - Making the right food choices with lots of whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, vegetables and fruits can reduce your risk. View recipes from the The American Heart Association’s growing cookbook which offers unique recipes that are as heart-healthy as they are delicious.