Education & Awareness of Cardiovascular Disease
By Amanda Knowles | 11th February 2008
February is the month of hearts: candy hearts, valentine hearts, broken hearts. Perhaps this year, people should start to think about their own hearts. February is American Heart Month, an entire month devoted to education and awareness about the dangers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The term cardiovascular disease includes heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and other conditions related to the heart, and it is a lot more common than most people think. CVD has been the leading cause of death in the United States since 1900 (excluding the flu epidemic in 1918), and CVD caused 869,724 deaths in 2004, dropping from 911,163 people in 2003.
The good news is that the rate of death related to CVD is decreasing, but the bad news is women are unaware of the high risk of developing CVD. Due to lack of education and awareness, many women assume CVD is more common among men, and women need to worry more about other illnesses, like cancer. This could not be further from the truth.
One in three adult females have some form of CVD, and in 2004 (the latest available year for statistics) approximately 459,000 women died from CVD, accounting for almost 39% of all female deaths in the United States. The rate of death among women from CVD is greater than lung cancer and breast cancer combined, and more women than men die from a heart-related illness.
‘A woman’s age, sex, and hereditary conditions play a large role in the development of CVD. The risk of having a heart attack or stroke increases with age, especially among women. In addition, some families have a have a greater chance of developing CVD.
Fortunately, lifestyle changes can help decrease a woman’s chance of developing CVD. A healthy physical body is a very important to maintaining a healthy heart. Health risks include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, and excess weight.
Smoking is the most preventable cause of heart disease, especially among women. Approximately 20.9 million women smoke, making them two to three times more likely of developing CVD. Women who smoke and take oral contraceptives have an even higher risk of heart attack and stroke than non-smoking women who take oral contraceptives.
Both high cholesterol and high blood pressure also increases a woman’s risk of CVD. High levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) raise the risk of CVD, while high levels of the “good” cholesterol (HDL) decrease the risk. Overall, cholesterol levels of women tend to be higher than men starting at age 55. Developing high blood pressure increases for women who are pregnant, taking certain oral contraceptives, or have reached menopause. Also, African-American women tend to have higher blood pressure than Caucasian women.
A woman’s chance of having CVD increases with lack of physical activity. An inactive person is twice as likely as an active person to develop heart disease, and only 30.1% of Americans are light to moderately active for the recommended 30 minutes at least five days a week.
In addition to being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight is very important to a healthy heart. About 66% of adults are overweight and 31.4% are obese, and studies show that people with excess weight in their waists are more susceptible to health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and other CVDs. Eating foods with heart healthy nutrients, like Omega-3 fatty acids, may help reduce the risk of having a CVD.
Studies have shown that moderate drinking, one drink a day for women and two a day for men, may lower the risk of heart disease; however, excessive drinking may actually increase the risk of developing a CVD. Experts do not recommend non-drinkers to begin consuming alcohol, and pregnant women should also not drink.
A trusted doctor should also be included in preventative medicine against CVD. It is a good idea to have regular checkups, especially for high-risk people. The check up will allow your doctor to check cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and weight, as well as give helpful advice and dispense any needed medication.
To help educate the public on important information associated with CVD, like the facts above, and in celebration of American Heart Month, many cities throughout the country, including Chicago, are turning red during the month of February. Many buildings will turn red in Chicago, including: the Art Institute, Macy’s on State Street, and the Wrigley Building. Additionally, there are heart-centered events planned throughout the month.
In conjunction with American Heart Month and to help raise awareness about heart disease among women, February 2 is National Wear Red Day. National Wear Red Day gives people the opportunity to spread the word about the dangers of heart disease among women, as well as show support for a heart healthier lifestyle. The campaign encourages both men and women to include red in their outfit for the entire day.
The annual Go Red for Women luncheon is at the State Street Macy’s in Chicago on February 29. This half-day event features keynote speaker Gina R. Boswell, former senior vice president and chief operating officer of Avon North America, as well as educational workshops and health screenings. Registration for the event begins at 7:00 a.m., followed by numerous health exhibits and screening opportunities. There is a kick off breakfast and town hall meeting at 9:00 a.m., followed by cooking demonstrations and other heart-healthy workshops. The entire event culminates with lunch at noon.
Closer to home is the 2008 Peoria Heart and Stroke Ball, being held at the Par-A-Dice Hotel Ballroom on February 2. This is a black-tie event that features silent and live auctions, dinner, dancing, and cocktails. The ball raises money to fund research and education for the American Heart Association. Contributions raised at the ball will be used to fund research and education for the American Heart Association’s children initiative, which researches congenital heart defects and educates children on how to live heart healthier lifestyles. The event starts at 6:00 p.m., and corporate sponsorship and table packages are available.
For more information:
American Heart Month www.americanheart.org.
National Wear Red Day www.goredforwomen.org
Also contact your local physician for more information on how to maintain a healthy heart.