Women and Heart Disease: The Forgotten Risk
Heart disease is the #1 health threat to American women, responsible for 39 percent of all female deaths in the United States. Indeed, one in five American women has heart disease, and one out of every two women will die of a heart attack or stroke. Yet in a survey conducted by the American Heart Association, only 13 percent of American women realized that heart disease and stroke are the #1 threat to their health.
February 15 is Women’s Heart Day, the perfect time for women to become more vigilant in recognizing and treating heart disease. Talk to your physician about your risk factors and determine what diagnostic tests might be helpful.
Items to Discuss with Your Doctor*
__ Age
__ Race
__ Family History of Heart Disease
__ Blood Pressure
__ Blood Cholesterol
__ Blood Triglycerides
__ Glucose Tolerance (if you are concerned about diabetes)
__ Ideal Weight for Age, Height and Body Type
__ Smoking and Alcohol Consumption
__ Response To Stress
__ Satisfaction with Work and Family
__ Oral Contraceptives
__ Estrogen Replacement Therapy (for postmenopausal women)
__ Dietary Changes
__ Exercise Routines
*Provided by the American Heart Association