Heart to Heart

What You Know About Heart Disease May Save Your Life

Women, it’s time for a heart-to-heart talk. Did you know that heart disease and stroke kill more American women every year than any other disease, including cancer? If, like most women, you worry more about breast cancer than heart disease, you may not be taking the necessary steps to keep your heart healthy. Although women tend to develop heart disease later in life than men do, women are less likely to survive a heart attack than men.

Know Your Risk Factors

Women looking to prevent problems related to heart disease should start by understanding and assessing their risk factors for cardiovascular disease:

I have a family history of heart disease.
If you have a parent, grandparent, brother or sister who had a heart attack or developed heart disease at an early age, then your risk of developing heart disease is higher.

I am African-American.
African-American women have a greater risk for heart disease than white women. That’s mostly because African-Americans tend to have higher blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack.

I have reached menopause.
Before menopause, women may have some natural protection from heart disease, thanks to the estrogen their body produces. At menopause, however, estrogen levels begin to decline, and a woman’s risk for heart attack begins to rise.

I have diabetes.
Women who have diabetes are two to six times more likely to have heart disease or a heart attack. In fact, diabetes seems to erase the protection that younger women naturally have from heart attack.

I’ve already had a heart attack or a stroke.
Women who have had a heart attack or a stroke are more likely to have another. Women who have had a heart attack are more likely to die within a year of the attack than men who have had a heart attack.

My total cholesterol is high.
High levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and, especially for women, low levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) increase your risk for heart attack.

I have high blood pressure.
In three out of five cases of heart failure in women, high blood pressure is the cause. High blood pressure makes your heart work harder and contributes to fatty deposits in the arteries.

I am 20 pounds overweight or more.
Being overweight puts women at risk for heart disease and many other diseases. Women are at high risk for heart disease if their waistline measures more than 35 inches or their body mass index (BMI) is 25 or higher. To calculate your BMI online, visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Web site at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi.

I smoke or am exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke.
Heavy smokers are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack as nonsmokers. Both smokers and nonsmokers regularly exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke are at increased risk. Smokers who take birth control pills are 39 times more at risk for having a heart attack.

I don’t get much exercise.
Inactive people run nearly twice the risk for heart disease as those who exercise regularly. Inactivity makes it easier to gain weight, which may lead to other health problems that strain the heart.

What You Can Do

Keep in mind that you have the power to take action to keep your heart healthy and strong. Chances are, you’re already making heart-friendly choices and laying the groundwork for better health. Now is the time to build on that foundation. Here’s what you may already be doing right:

I see my doctor regularly.
This probably means you’re getting your blood pressure and cholesterol checked and that if your levels are too high, you’ve been prescribed any necessary medications. Take the next step: Take medications exactly as directed. Find out how your blood pressure and cholesterol readings compare to healthy standards. Because both cholesterol and blood pressure rise with age, it pays to follow recommended diet and lifestyle changes now. Visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Website at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd.

I pay attention to what I eat.
You know the difference between junk food and healthy food. You also understand that foods high in fat and calories lead to weight gain. Take the next step: What you eat has a huge impact on your weight and cholesterol levels and can even affect blood pressure. Choose an eating plan you can stick with that is low in saturated fat and salt and high in fiber and nutrition. Visit the American Heart Association Website at www.americanheart.org.

I don’t smoke or I am considering quitting.
Quitting smoking is the very best thing you can do for your heart. Take the next step: If you smoke, talk with your doctor or local heart or lung association about methods of quitting. For more information, visit the Tobacco Information and Prevention Source Website at www.cdc.gov/tobacco.

Just reading this article shows that you are taking steps to protect your heart. A healthier heart comes from making the right choices one step at a time.

Hormone Therapy and Your Heart

Part of a large study, called the Women’s Health Initiative, was halted in 2002 because early results showed an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, stroke and dementia in women taking a combination of the hormones estrogen and progestin. These findings debunk the theory that long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke. Women in the study taking HRT for more than five years had 29 percent more heart attacks and 41 percent more strokes. HRT is no longer recommended as protection against heart disease.

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