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February 10, 2008 - Information
presented to MCC MT congregation from the Wellness Team. Please research for more information as this is not meant to
be inclusive, if you have questions about heart health you should contact your medical provider. Thank you Irene Crawford
RN, Director MCC MT Wellness Program
Every woman needs to know about heart
disease.The Heart Truth is that heart disease is the #1 killer of American women. In fact, one in four women dies of
heart disease. But heart disease can also lead to disability and a significantly decreased quality of life. Unfortunately,
most women don't know The Heart Truth. Although significant progress has been made increasing awareness among women—from
34 percent in 2000 to 57 percent in 2006—most women fail to make the connection between risk factors and their personal
risk of developing heart disease.The Heart Truth is that women don't take their risk of heart disease seriously—or
personally. Women often fail to make the connection between risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol,
and their own chance of developing heart disease.
What Are the Risk Factors for Heart
Disease?
Risk factors are conditions or habits that make a person more likely to develop a disease. They
can also increase the chances that an existing disease will get worse. Important risk factors for heart disease that
you can do something about are:
· High blood pressure
· High blood cholesterol
· Diabetes
· Smoking
· Being overweight
· Being physically
inactive
· Having a family history of early heart disease
· Age (55 or older for women)
Some risk factors, such as age and family history of early heart disease, can't be changed. For women,
age becomes a risk factor at 55. After menopause, women are more apt to get heart disease, in part because their body's
production of estrogen drops. Women who have gone through early menopause, either naturally or because they have had
a hysterectomy, are twice as likely to develop heart disease as women of the same age who have not yet gone through menopause.
Another reason for the increasing risk is that middle age is a time when women tend to develop risk factors for heart disease.
Family history of early heart disease is another risk factor that can't be changed. If your father or brother had
a heart attack before age 55, or if your mother or sister had one before age 65, you are more likely to get heart disease
yourself.
While certain risk factors cannot be changed, it is important to realize that you do have control over
many others. Regardless of your age, background, or health status, you can lower your risk of heart disease—and
it doesn't have to be complicated. Protecting your heart can be as simple as taking a brisk walk, whipping up a
good vegetable soup, or getting the support you need to maintain a healthy weight.
Some women believe that doing
just one healthy thing will take care of all of their heart disease risk. For example, they may think that if they walk
or swim regularly, they can still smoke and stay fairly healthy. Wrong! To protect your heart, it is vital to make changes
that address each risk factor you have. You can make the changes gradually, one at a time. But making them is
very important. Other women may wonder: If I have just one risk factor for heart disease—say, I'm overweight
or I have high blood cholesterol—aren't I more or less "safe"? Absolutely not. Each
risk factor greatly increases a woman's chance of developing heart disease. But having more than one risk factor
is especially serious, because risk factors tend to "gang up" and worsen each other's effects. So, the
message is clear: Every woman needs to take her heart disease risk seriously—and take action now to reduce that
risk.
Tips for Heart Health
· Don't smoke, and if you do, quit. Women
who smoke are two to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than non-smoking women. Smoking also boosts the
risk of stroke and cancer.
· Aim for a healthy weight. It's important for a long, vigorous
life. Overweight and obesity cause many preventable deaths.
· Get moving. Make a commitment
to be more physically active. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most, preferably all, days of the
week.
· Eat for heart health. Choose a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol,
and moderate in total fat.
· Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure,
cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), and blood glucose. Work with your doctor to improve any numbers that are
not normal
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