News flash!! February is American Heart Month. According to the Center for Disease Control, and contrary to popular belief, heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America, not just men! Cancer is number 2 and stroke is the 3rd cause of death for women.

According to National Vital Statistics reports, heart disease causes more than half a million deaths each year. African American women are 60% more likely to die of heart disease than white women, and our death rate for stroke is 24% higher. Currently, over 9 million American women of all ages suffer from heart disease; and women are twice as likely as men to die following a heart attack.

Increasing age is also a factor in heart disease, and since people age 65 and over are the fastest growing group in the U.S., heart disease is becoming a growing problem for women. Did you know that one in ten women age 45 to 64 has some form of heart disease? And, this increases to one in four women over age 65.

The changes in our hormonal make up also play a critical role in heart disease. Post-menopausal women are more prone to heart disease because they no longer have the protective effects of estrogen. Older women are also more likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, become diabetic, overweight and less active than younger women.

Heart Attack Warning Signs:

• Chest discomfort
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
• Sense of impending doom

If you or someone you're with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of these signs, don't wait longer than a few minutes (no more than 5) before calling for help. Call 9-1-1.

What You Can Do

It is estimated that between 40 and 70% of all deaths are lifestyle related. Knowing your risk for heart disease, therefore, can help you modify your lifestyle and reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer and stroke. The American Heart Association promotes the following modifiable risk factors to reduce your risk of heart disease. (Non-modifiable factors to be considered include your age and family history).
- Stop Smoking - Quitting smoking is perhaps the most important health decision you can make. Smoking more than doubles your risk of heart disease and can lead to lung cancer and disease.

- Reduce Cholesterol Level - High cholesterol levels can lead to deposits in the arteries that cause them to become narrow, increasing your risk for a heart attack. Eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol (no more than 30% of your calories from fat) and high in fiber and vegetables can assist with reducing your high levels. Regular physical exercise, and weight loss for overweight persons, will also assist in lowering blood cholesterol levels.

Control High Blood Pressure - More than half of all women over 55 have high blood pressure. High blood pressure can be controlled with proper treatment and lifestyle changes of diet modification, exercise and weight loss, if overweight.

• Reduce Weight - Overweight women are much more likely to develop heart related problems even if they have no other risk factors. You can lower your risk by losing as few as 10 to 20 pounds. We recommend using a sensible eating and exercising program, checking with your healthcare provider first.

• Control Diabetes - Heart disease is the leading cause of death for diabetics! If you have diabetes, you are considered at high risk for heart disease. Diabetics should work closely with their healthcare provider to maintain their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. To learn more about the risks of cardiovascular disease among people with diabetes, call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org/makethelink.

• Reduce Stress - Unmanaged stress can put you at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Exercise.meditation, and other relaxation techniques can be effective stress busters.

• Modify Alcohol Intake - People who drink heavily on a regular basis have higher rates of heart disease than either moderate or nondrinkers. (For women, moderate drinking is nor more than one drink per day)

• Exercise Regularly - Physical inactivity is a risk factor for heart disease. When combined with being overweight or having an elevated cholesterol level, your risk increases. Begin with a five minute warm up and make sure to progress slowly. For example, if you haven't walked in awhile, start with 2 blocks and progress as you can tolerate it. You should always talk with your healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program.

Having an awareness of warning signs and symptoms will assist you in getting treated earlier.

The American Heart Association urges all African Americans to get the facts through its
ongoing awareness campaign, Take Your Heart and Health Into Your Own Hands.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3007877

The American Heart Association is having a campaign in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. to increase women's knowledge about heart disease, along with providing free heart health screenings and panel discussions with top heart experts. February 21st, 2003 is Women's Heart Day. Follow this link for additional information: http://www.sistertosister.org/womans.html

There are a number of other excellent websites that provide accurate information about women and heart disease. You can visit The National Women's Information Center at http://www.4women.org/faq/heartdis.htm for an informative site on Heart and Cardiovascular Disease.

The Women's Health Center of Mayo Clinic provides five strategies that will get you started towards adopting a healthy lifestyle and thus reducing your risks for heart disease.

The best way to protect yourself against a heart attack and heart disease is to know your personal risk factors and to tailor your lifestyle changes to suit your particular medical needs.

Be well,

Claire Washington, CRNP

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