Women and Heart Health

Did you know that the #1 killer of women is heart disease?

What can you do to decrease your risks of heart disease?

• Increase your physical activity
• Watch your weight- it's not just about looks.
• Get regular heart health screeenings and check-ups
• Monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose
• Stop smoking

Here's something to try to understand your heart better:

Learn how much your heart beats when you are physically active. Take your pulse and write down the number. The dance or jog in place for a couple of minutes. Now take your pulse again. Feel the difference? Physical activity amkes the body use more oxygen, so the heart beats faster to get more oxygen to the body. The heart is an amazing machine! Getting your heart to beat faster with physical activity for 30 minutes a day helps keep your heart healthy.

Risk Factors for heart disease that you CAN control

• Physical activity
• Obesity and overweight
• Diabetes
• Tobacco smoke
• High blood pressure and high cholesterol

Risk Factors for heart disease that you CAN'T control

• Age
• Gender
• Family history

What is heart disease?

Coronary heart disease is the main form of heart disease. It is a disorder of the blood vessels of the heart that can lead to heart attack. A heart attack happens when an artery becomes blocked, preventing oxygen and nutrients from getting to the heart. Other cardiovascualr diseases include stroke, high blood pressure, angina- chect pain- , and rheumatic heart disease.

For more information about heart health please contact the health education office at 617-521-1001, or the health center at 617-521-1020, and join us to hear Dr. Paula Johnson speak about heart health on Thursday February 28, 2008 at 4 pm in the Kotzen Room.

Women-To-Women: It's Our Responsibilty

Please spread the word to all the special women in your life to keep our hearts healthy. Tell your sisters, mothers and grandmothers, aunts, and friends, to treat your heart well.

Resources

American Heart Association

www.americanheart.org

The Red Dress

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth