Heart Truth: The Silent Serial Killer

Embracing The ChangeEmbracing The Change

Heart Truth: The Silent Serial Killer

✴Not Just a man’s problem

✴The most common cause of heart disease is a narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself.

✴ Happens slowly over time earning it the name “The Silent Killer”.

✴ The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease.

✴Not Just a man’s problem

✴The most common cause of heart disease is a narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself.

✴ Happens slowly over time earning it the name “The Silent Killer”.

✴ The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease.

What is Heart Disease? ext

Survival & DefeatMeet Cindy, “I didn’t recognize the significance of my family history as a risk factor

for heart disease.” Cindy was fit and healthy for her age but, after feeling faint during her daily workouts she underwent a stress test, and was told she was fine.

Five months after the stress test, she completed a race sponsored by her running club. Two hours after crossing the finish line she suffered a heart attack due to a full

blockage in the right anterior descending artery. She ignored her symptoms and waited three days before going to the doctor.

Thankfully, Cindy is alive, well and still competing in races.

Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky...............

Meet Marilyn, unlike Cindy her story does not have a happy ending. Marilyn, was a healthy and vivacious fifty-six year old without a care

in the world.

On a seemingly normal sunday Marilyn collapsed in her home, and was found later that evening. The coroner’s report showed she

suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage and aneurysm related to heart disease.

Did she have the warning signs? What was her risk of heart disease?

Women at RiskRisk factors you cannot

modify:

• Family history of early heart disease.

• Age, 55 or older

•Race/Ethnicity

Risk factors you can modify:

• High Blood Pressure

• High Blood Cholesterol

•Diabetes

•Smoking

•Weight

•Physical Activity

Statistics & Trends

One in three female adults has some for of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Since 1984, the number of CVD deaths for females has exceeded those for males.

In 2005, CVD was the cause of death in 454,613 females. Females represent 52.6% of deaths from CVD. While all forms of cancer combined killed 268,890 females.

In 2005, 36.7% of Caucasian, 37% of African American, 31% of Latino, and 24.8% of American Indian females died from CVD. This number continues to grow.

Early DetectionBlood Tests (Ex: Fats in your blood,

LDL, HDL, Triglycerides, Glucose, C-Reactive Protein, CBC, Thyroid Studies.)

Electrocardiography Chest X-Ray Echocardiography MRI (Magnetic Resonance

Imaging) Stress Tests

• CT (Cat Scan)• Coronary Catheterization

Early DetectionBlood Tests (Ex: Fats in your blood,

LDL, HDL, Triglycerides, Glucose, C-Reactive Protein, CBC, Thyroid Studies.)

Electrocardiography Chest X-Ray Echocardiography MRI (Magnetic Resonance

Imaging) Stress Tests

• CT (Cat Scan)• Coronary Catheterization

Prevention & Early Detection

PreventionControl & Monitor

Blood Pressure Blood Cholesterol Diabetes Quit Smoking Weight Physical Activity Family History of Heart Disease Age (Primarily 55 or older for

Women)

PreventionControl & Monitor

Blood Pressure Blood Cholesterol Diabetes Quit Smoking Weight Physical Activity Family History of Heart Disease Age (Primarily 55 or older for

Women)

DrugsDepending on diagnosis goal

is to: Reduce Symptoms Increase Heart’s Pumping

Capacity Increase blood flow to the

heart’s arteries. Lowering risk of having a

heart attack Common Prescriptions

ACE Inhibitors Anti-Platelet Drugs Beta Blockers Calcium Channel Blockers Nitroglycerin Statins

DrugsDepending on diagnosis goal

is to: Reduce Symptoms Increase Heart’s Pumping

Capacity Increase blood flow to the

heart’s arteries. Lowering risk of having a

heart attack Common Prescriptions

ACE Inhibitors Anti-Platelet Drugs Beta Blockers Calcium Channel Blockers Nitroglycerin Statins

Treatment

Surgical TherapiesDepending on diagnosis:

Coronary Artery Bypass Angioplasty Implantable Devices

Surgical TherapiesDepending on diagnosis:

Coronary Artery Bypass Angioplasty Implantable Devices

Prevents future hospital stays, heart problems, and death related to heart problems

Addresses risk factors that lead to additional heart problems.

Adopt healthy lifestyle changes Improve your health and quality of life.

Prevents future hospital stays, heart problems, and death related to heart problems

Addresses risk factors that lead to additional heart problems.

Adopt healthy lifestyle changes Improve your health and quality of life.

Rehabilitation

Multiple local support services to help women with heart disease cope and live with there disease. As well as living healthier and fuller lives.

Support Networks- Led by trained patient volunteers, meeting monthly to share stories and help each other cope with heart disease.

Online Communities- online communities offers support right at your fingertips. Offer a variety of chat rooms as well as healthy lifestyle changes. Example: Womenheart.org

Multiple local support services to help women with heart disease cope and live with there disease. As well as living healthier and fuller lives.

Support Networks- Led by trained patient volunteers, meeting monthly to share stories and help each other cope with heart disease.

Online Communities- online communities offers support right at your fingertips. Offer a variety of chat rooms as well as healthy lifestyle changes. Example: Womenheart.org

Support

Heart disease is the number one killer of

women today, we need to embrace the change

and live healthier fuller lives. Don’t let heart disease silence

you.

Heart disease is the number one killer of

women today, we need to embrace the change

and live healthier fuller lives. Don’t let heart disease silence

you.