heart
health:
women still have a way to go
February 2007
The good news: Women’s awareness of heart disease
as the leading cause of death has nearly doubled in the
last decade, to 55 percent, according to a report in the
American Heart Association journal Circulation.
The bad news: Even with all the news articles and advertising
campaigns out there meant to educate about
heart disease, many women at high risk for heart disease,
particularly women of color, still have significantly
lower rates of awareness, according to Gladys Velarde,
M.D., a cardiologist at the Strong Heart and Vascular
Center/University of Rochester Medical Center and director
of the Strong Women’s Heart Program.
The report says that 62 percent of white women surveyed
were aware that cardiovascular disease is the No.
1 killer of women and men, yet only 38 percent of African
Americans and 34 percent of Hispanics had the same
level of awareness.
“We need to make all women in the United States aware
of the dangers of heart disease and factors that contribute
to it,” Velarde says.
One significant influence is metabolic syndrome, a
collection of health risk factors that include being
overweight (especially at the waist), having borderline
glucose (sugar) levels, borderline blood pressure, and
abnormal cholesterol levels with high triglycerides (fat
content in blood). People with three or more of these risk
factors are considered to have metabolic syndrome and
are at greater risk for heart disease.
“Women need to take action to fight heart disease, yet
those changes do not need to be drastic,” Velarde says.
“There are some simple things women can do each day
to improve their heart health.”
• Know your risk factors – If you have a family history
of heart disease, you should consult with your doctor
about preventive measures you can take, and about
symptoms you should be aware of. African Americans
and Hispanics need to be particularly mindful of their
hereditary history since heart disease affects those
populations so significantly.
• Strive for a healthy diet – Cut down on the fat and
calories, and make sure you’re eating healthy foods.
They provide the nutrition your body needs, resulting
in you feeling better, having more energy, and improving
heart health.
• Exercise – The American Heart Association suggests
walking 30 minutes five or more times a week. If you
are new to exercise, or have been away from it for a
while, see your doctor for a check-up before starting a
routine.
• Lower both your cholesterol and blood pressure– Unacceptable levels have a significant impact on
heart health. See your doctor and have your numbers
checked, then ask about strategies to lower high
cholesterol and blood pressure. Exercise and diet can
make a difference, and in some cases, medications
can help.
• Do not smoke! – Cigarette smokers are two to three
times more likely to die from coronary heart disease
than nonsmokers. Quitting can make one of the most
significant health changes in your life. If you are a
smoker, seek advice from your physician about strategies
to help you stop.
Even modest changes in lifestyle can have a significant
impact over the long-term, Velarde stresses. “Incorporating
ideas that promote healthy living can save a life. The
important thing is for women to be aware of their risks and
actions they can take to counter them, so we can decrease
the number of incidents of heart disease in this country,
allowing more women to live longer, enriching lives.”
ROCHESTER RESOURCE
For more information about heart health, log on to www.mystrongheart.com. |
