# Presentation: 132831

## Welcome

## A National Campaign

- To help women understand their risk of heart disease and take action
- Especially women ages 40 to 60
- Partnership of many groups
- Red Dress–the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness

## Today’s Session Will Cover

- Why women need to know about heart disease
- What heart disease is
- Risk factors
- Talking to your doctor
- Taking action
- Surviving a heart attack
- Resources
- Getting on the road to heart health

## The Heart Truth

- Heart disease is the #1 killer of American women—no matter what their race or ethnicity
- Heart disease kills 1 of every 3 American women
- Heart disease can permanently damage your heart—and your life

## The Heart Truth

- Heart disease is a “now” problem
- “Later” may be too late

## What Is Heart Disease?

- Heart doesn’t get enough nutrient-rich blood
- Chronic—develops over years
- Atherosclerosis—arteries harden as cholesterol, fat, and other substances build up in artery walls
- Blockage can result in heart attack

## No Quick Fix

- Not “fixed” by surgery or procedures, such as bypass and angioplasty
- Worsens if not treated—leads to disability or death

## Good News

- Heart disease can be prevented or controlled
- Treatment includes lifestyle changes and, if needed, medication

## Why Me?  Why Now?

- Risk rises ages 40–60
- Estrogen level drops during menopause
- Risk factors
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Overweight/obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Diabetes
- Family history of early heart disease
- Age (55 and older for women)

## Heart Disease Risk Factors

- Multiply their effects
- Same lifestyle steps prevent/control many of the risk factors

## Have a Heart-to-Heart

- Ask your doctor about your risk of heart disease
- Draw up a list of questions before your visit
- Write down or tape record what the doctor says
- Tell your doctor your lifestyle behaviors, such as smoking or being physically inactive

## Key Tests for Heart Disease Risk

- Blood pressure
- Blood cholesterol
- Fasting plasma glucose (diabetes test)
- Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference
- Electrocardiogram
- Stress test

## Why Women Don’t Take Action Against Heart Disease

- They don’t put their health as a top priority
- They think they’re not old enough to be at risk
- They feel too busy to make changes in their lives
- They’re already feeling stressed
- They’re tired

## How To Lower Heart Disease Risk

- Begin today
- Be physically active—30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most days of the week
- Follow a healthy eating plan
- Low in saturated fat, *trans* fat, and cholesterol and moderate in total fat
- Limit salt and sodium
- If you drink alcoholic beverages, have no more than one a day

## How To Lower Heart Disease Risk

- Maintain a healthy weight
- Balance calories taken in with those used up in physical activity
- Stop smoking
- Manage diabetes
- Take medication, if prescribed

## Heart Attack Warning Signs

- Chest discomfort
- Usually in the center of the chest
- Lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
- Can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach

## Heart Attack Warning Signs

- Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
- Other symptoms, such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness

## To Survive a Heart Attack

- Call 9-1-1 within minutes—5 minutes at most
- Emergency medical personnel will begin treatment at once
- Don’t drive yourself to the hospital
- Uncertainty is normal—don’t be embarrassed by a false alarm
- Plan ahead
- Learn the warning signs

## Resources for a Healthy Heart

- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute   www.hearttruth.gov
- American Heart Association
*	*Go Red for Women*   *www.americanheart.org
- Office on Women’s Health, DHHS
- 	National Women’s Health Information Center
- 	   www.womenshealth.gov
- WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
-   	   www.womenheart.org

## It All Begins With You

- Take one step at a time
- Replace unhealthy habits with healthier ones
- Eat for heart health
- Remember that calories count
- Start walking—try 10 minutes and add time gradually to get 30 minutes a day

## How To Keep Going

- View changes as new lifestyle, not quick fixes
- Set realistic goals
- Buddy up
- Don’t worry about a slip
- Reward your success
- Be your own advocate—ask questions and seek information

## The Heart Truth

- It’s up to you to protect your heart health—start today!