Take it To HeartAn Alert to Women About Heart DiseaseHeart Disease: The Silent Killer of Women The number one killer of American women is heart disease; stroke is the third highest cause of death. Yet, research shows that less than half of all women are aware of these alarming statistics. Moreover, even when women are educated on the risks of heart disease and stroke, only 8% consider heart disease their greatest threat. Cancer, and more specifically breast cancer is the disease most feared by women. While it's true breast cancer is a horrific disease, worthy of significant attention, heart disease is responsible for the deaths of far more women. The decades-long public awareness campaigns waged against breast cancer succeeded in stimulating the medical community's responsiveness to battling this disease through providing improved screenings, treatment, and dedicated, ongoing research. Hopefully, by shining the same lighten heart disease, through better educating women, we can impact its treatment in much the same way. "Take It To Heart" is a program designed to teach women about simple steps they can take to reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke. Partners in this program include the Baker-Gilmour Cardiovascular Institute, WJXT Channel 4 Jacksonville, Winn-Dixie, and the American Heart Association. Some Surprising Facts:
There are five major risk factors* for CVD:
Even though obesity, physical inactivity, and age (over 55) are not on this list of risk factors to be counted, they are conditions that raise your risk for heart disease and need to be corrected. Are there some risk factors that are more important to women then to men?Risk factors for heart disaease goes up dramatically for women after the age of menopause (on average 50 years old) as hormones (specifically estrogen) seem to play a protective role with the elevation of HDL cholesterol, the "good cholesterol." If a woman has low HDL during earlier years (prior to menopause), this is a significant risk factor and is probably more significant than the elevation of LDL or "bad cholesterol"Since heart disease has been seen in younger women, before the age of 45, with relatively normal LDL's, testing for the elevation of high sensitivity CRP (c reactive protein) may also help identify high risk women. I have not undergone menopause. Doesn't this mean I'm safe from heart attack?This statement has provided many women with a false sense of security. Unfortunately, it's not true. More women have been having heart attacks before menopause. There have been approximately 9,000 deaths before age 45. Smoking and diabetes can negate the positive effects of hormones on the cardiovascular system of premenopausal women. Combined with lack of awareness of cardiovascular disease in this group of women, there is often a delay in seeking care for symptoms or symptoms a re too easily dismissed because of the "premenopausal" fallacy of presumed low risk. After menopause, women have heart attacks at the same rate as men.Are symptoms of heart problems the same for women as for men?The classic symptoms of chest pain going down the left arm does occur in both men and women. However, women are more likely to experience subtle warning symptoms of heart problems such as:
These symptoms should not be ignored. If you are experiencing any of them, call and talk to your physician. If the symptoms are persistent, seek help. Are diagnostic tests the same for men and women?Although the basic tests, such as exercise stress tests, are the same, these tests may not result in the same level of accurate information in women as they do in men. Occasionally, to enhance the diagnostic valve of the stress test, a radionucleotide is injected. This allows physicians to follow how the blood flows to the heart and helps increase the accuracy of the testing.Do heart attacks have the same effect on men and women?No. Heart attacks, as a rule, are much more serious in women then in men. Women have a 50% chance of dying versus a 30% chance of dying for men. Women are also much more likely to be disabled from heart attacks due to heart failure. 46% of women suffer some kind of resulting disability versus 22% of men.Although these statistics are grim, the great news is that with education, awareness and prevention, these trends can be reduced.
The American Heart Association has identified several risk factors for coronary heart disease, which causes heart attack. Some of them can be changed, treated or modified and some can't. But the more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that he or she will develop heart disease. Therefore, as a woman, it is critical for you to know and/or identify any risk factors and begin, at as early an age as possible, risk factor modifications and lifestyle changes. If it is determined that you are at risk, you should never solely depend on medication for protection. A damaged heart can damage or even take your life. So, start taking action today to protect your heart. As one woman doctor put it: "Heart disease is a 'now' problem. Later may be too late!" * Facts provided by the American Heart Association. While certain risk factors cannot be changed, it is important to realize that you do have control over many others.
| |||||||||||||
