Heart Awareness Information

When you hear the term “heart disease,” you might think, “That’s a man’s disease” or “Not my problem.” The truth of the matter is that although heart disease is indeed the leading killer of men in this country, heart disease has also claimed more women’s lives in the U.S. than the next three causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. One in five females in the U.S. has some form of heart disease. A woman dies from heart disease in this country every 34 seconds. It is also the leading cause of disability in women and more fatal, as the warning signs of a heart attack are different in women than in men.

These staggering facts are behind Cape Cod Health Care’s effort this month to increase women’s heart health awareness and education. February is American Heart Month, an appropriate time to remember that although heart disease is the number one killer of women in America, it is also often preventable.

Despite the troubling data on women’s heart disease, the trend is heading in the right direction. Heart disease awareness in women has doubled in the last 12 years, and the awareness gap between older and younger women is narrowing. Data also show that women are taking more preventive actions.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR

Getting answers to these questions will give you vital information about your heart health and what you can do to improve it. You may want to bring this list to your doctor's office.

1.  What is my risk for heart disease?
2.  What is my blood pressure? What does it mean for me, and what do I need to do about it?
3.  What are my cholesterol numbers? (These include total cholesterol, LDL or "bad" cholesterol, HDL or "good" cholesterol, and triglycerides.) What do they mean for me, and what do I need to do about them?
4.  What are my "body mass index" and waist measurement? Do they indicate that I need to lose weight for my health?
5.  What is my blood sugar level, and does it mean I'm at risk for diabetes?
6.  What other screening tests for heart disease do I need? How often should I return for checkups for my heart health?
7.  What can you do to help me quit smoking?
8.  How much physical activity do I need to help protect my heart?
9.  What is a heart-healthy eating plan for me? Should I see a registered dietitian or qualified nutritionist to learn more about healthy eating?
10.  How can I tell if I'm having a heart attack?

To learn more, visit www.hearttruth.gov

Source: The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2007).

WHAT'S YOUR RISK?

Here is a quick quiz to find out your risk of a heart attack. If you don't know some of the answers, check with your health care provider.

Choose one of the following answers for each question:
     ~ Yes
     ~ No
     ~ Don't Know

1.  Do you smoke?
2.  Is your blood pressure 140/90 mmHg or higher, OR have you been told by your doctor that your blood pressure is too high?
3.  Has your doctor told you that your total cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL or higher, OR your HDL (good cholesterol) is less than 40 mg/dL?
4.  Has your father or brother had a heart attack before age 55, OR has your mother or sister had one before age 65?
5.  Do you have diabetes OR a fasting blood sugar of 126 mg/dL or higher, OR do you need medicine to control your blood sugar?
6.  Are you over 55 years old?
7.  Do you have a body mass index (BMI) score of 25 or more?
8.  Do you get less than a total of 30 minutes of physical activity on most days?
9.  Has a doctor told you that you have angina (chest pains), OR have you had a heart attack?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you're at an increased risk of having a heart attack.

To learn more, visit www.hearttruth.gov

Source: The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2007).

Other Resources:

The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women

The 122-page, full-color, 20th anniversary edition of The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women provides the most recent information on women's heart disease and practical suggestions for reducing your own risk.  View PDF (2.5M)

The Heart Truth for Women Brochure

The campaign brochure features women telling their own stories about heart disease and provides information about risk factors and a checklist of key questions to ask your doctor.  View PDF (413K)

Keep the Beat: Deliciously Healthy Dinners

What's good for your heart is great for your taste buds. As the recipes in this special collection will show, you don't have to lose flavor to gain health.  Cook Book: Deliciously Healthy HTML