Women’s Heart Health

Most women know that heart disease is the number-one killer in
the United States–of men Most women also realize the value of
eating healthy food, exercising, and decreasing stress–for
their families and loved ones Information is abundant and
readily available in books, newspapers and magazines, and on
television and radio about the risk of cardiovascular disease in
men
But the widespread belief that heart disease is exclusively a
man’s problem is a myth Women–and most physicians–are not
aware that cardiovascular disease is the number one-killer of
women as well as men The facts speak for themselves: Of the
520,000 people who die of heart attacks in the United States
each year, almost half–about 250,000–are women In addition,
almost 100,000 women die of strokes Substantially fewer women
die annually from breast cancer (40,500) or lung cancer
(41,500) Overall, heart and vascular diseases claim more
American women’s lives than do all forms of cancer combined
Moreover, many of the factors that determine the risk of heart
disease for women differ from those for men Dr William
Castelli, a leading authority on heart disease and director of
the Framingham Heart Study, which has done research on heart
disease risk factors for forty years, has referred to these
unique risks for women as a “whole new syndrome” associated with
a “galloping progression of atherosclerosis
Women are largely unaware of the effects of estrogen, birth
control pills, and cigarettes and few know that if they smoke
and take birth control pills, they have about forty times more
chance of heart disease than women who do not Women above age
thirty-five are particularly at risk It is vital to understand
the factors favoring heart disease, because they may be
avoidable or modifiable In fact, according to Dr Dean Ornish,
women may have to do less than men to affect their outlook
positively In a study he conducted evaluating the effect of
life-style changes in reversing heart disease, women responded
better than men, even when women did less to restrict their
diets, exercise, or reduce stress By understanding their risks
and ways to minimize them, women can lessen the chances of being
victims of what the American Heart Association has called “the
silent epidemic”
The purpose of developing and maintaining a healthy way of life
for yourself as a woman is not only to decrease the risk of
heart disease but also to fell well and feel good Physical
activity does not have to be strenuous to be beneficial More
women than ever are discovering that exercise in moderation is
exhilirating Healthy changes in eating do not have to be unduly
restrictive The food you eat can continue to be delicious and
satisfying By using simply new tools to maintain a healthy
weight, you will decrease the chances of developing three big
heart disease risks–diabetes, high blood pressure and high
cholesterol–and discover a renewed sense of self at the same
time
By taking control of your health, you will be more able to take
control of other aspects of your life In so doing, you will
achieve a greater sense of well-being, which is the true meaning
of health This is a marvelous opportunity for you personally
In addition, your new healthy living habits can be a model for
family and friends You thus may make a significant difference
in their lives and health as well as your own In the words of
Hillel: “If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? If not
now, when?”

Tags | attacks, breast, cardiovascular, control, disease, diseases, eating, framingham, healthy, leading, ornish, result, risk, vascular