Yesterday was National "Go Red" day. The American Heart Association started this campaign in 2003, encouraging everyone to wear something red on February 1st each year, to raise awareness of heart disease, the #1 cause of death in women. February is "heart health month".
Below: This is Stephanie and her friends and co-workers, celebrating Go Red for Women Day.
This website has a lot of valuable information about heart disease: www.goredforwomen.org
Facts:
- Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute.
- 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
- Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease and the gap between men and women’s survival continues to widen.
- The symptoms of heart disease can be different in women vs. men, and are often misunderstood.
- While 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, 1 in 3 dies of heart disease.
Heart disease affects the blood vessels and cardiovascular system. Numerous problems can result from this, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis, a condition that develops when plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through. If a blood clot forms, it can stop the blood flow. This can cause a heart attack or stroke.
But it doesn’t end there. Heart disease can take many other forms as well:
- Heart failure or congestive heart failure, which means that the heart is still working, but it isn’t pumping blood as well as it should, or getting enough oxygen.
- Arrhythmia or an abnormal rhythm of the heart, which means the heart is either beating too fast, too slow or irregularly. This can affect how well the heart is functioning and whether or not the heart is able to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
- Heart valve problems can lead to the heart not opening enough to allow proper blood flow. Sometimes the heart valves don’t close and blood leaks through, or the valve leaflets bulge or prolapse into the upper chamber, causing blood to flow backward through them.
- Don’t smoke
- Manage your blood sugar
- Get your blood pressure under control
- Lower your cholesterol
- Know your family history
- Stay active
- Lose weight
- Eat healthy
Family Tree
The tendency to develop heart disease tends to run in the family - BUT you can take steps to prevent it by making healthy lifestyle choices! Print this Family Tree Flyer. Fill it out and give a copy of it to your healthcare provider. This will help you determine if you are at higher risk, so that you can determine if you need to make changes to your eating and exercise habits.
Heart Health Guide
- Signs of a heart attack and stroke in women
- Cholesterol: what the levels mean and what you can do you lower your cholesterol
- Diabetes: who is at higher risk, and tips to manage diabetes
- High Blood Pressure: what the levels mean and what you can do to lower your blood pressure
- Body Mass Index (BMI): how to calculate your BMI
- Tips for Healthy Eating and Staying Active
- Smoking: tips for quitting
