It is important for women to talk to their nurse or doctor about their heart health It is important for women to talk to their nurse or doctor about symptoms.

• It is important for women to talk to their nurse or doctor about their heart health

• It is important for women to talk to their nurse or doctor about symptoms of heart problems

• Women need to tell other women about heart health and important risk factors

Why am I “Telling A Friend”?

• Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in women

• Stroke is the #3 cause of death in women

• Know the symptoms of heart attack and stroke, and seek medical attention promptly

• Prevention is important for everyone!

Key Messages for Women

CVD & Other Causes of Death

More than 1 in 4 women will die of heart disease 1 in 30 women will die of breast cancer

Women are getting the message

What is the leading cause of death in women?We know the answer: Heart Disease!

In 1997, only 30% (less than 1 out of 3) women knew the right answer.

In 2010, 57% of women knew the right answer.

• Women are more likely to die in the first year following a heart attack than men the same age– 1 of 4 men will die in the first year– More than 1 of 3 women will die in the first year

• We don’t know all the reasons for this difference

• The government requires that heart disease researchers:– Include women as research subjects– Report how men and women respond to treatments

Death After a Heart Attack

• Cholesterol profile numbers

• Blood pressure reading

• Blood sugar: blood test for diabetes

Always Know Your Numbers!

• Guidelines put women in 1 of 3 classes:– Low Risk– Moderate Risk– High Risk

• The same things that increase risk for a heart attack can increase the risk for a stroke

• Ask your nurse or doctor to help you make a plan to lower your risk level

Risk Factors for Heart Disease

• Physical Activity

• Life Stress

• High Blood Pressure

• Obesity

• Diabetes

• High Cholesterol & Triglycerides

• Smoking

• Unhealthy Diet (HIGH in saturated fat & calories; LOW in fresh fruit, veggies, whole grains & fish)

What are the Risk Factors?

• Age

• Gender

• Family History

What You CAN Change

What You CAN’T Change

• Previous heart attack or stroke

• Angina

• Circulation problems

• Diabetes

• Chronic kidney disease

Signs You’re at High Risk for Heart Disease

• One or more of the following risk factors:– High cholesterol– Diabetes– Smoking– High blood pressure– Family history of heart disease or stroke at a young

age (<50 for men; <60 for women)

• Metabolic Syndrome – more about this later!

• Can only exercise for a short time during a treadmill test performed by your nurse or doctor

Signs You’re at Moderate Riskfor Heart Disease

• “Optimal Risk”

• No major risk factors

• Healthy Diet

• Daily Exercise

Signs You’re at Low Riskfor Heart Disease

Tackling a Risk Factor:

HIGH BLOOD

PRESSURE

• High blood pressure is very common as women get older

• Even women who had good blood pressure all their lives are at risk for high blood pressure as they age

• High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because it doesn’t have any symptoms

Recognizing High Blood Pressure

Know Your Numbers:Classification of Blood Pressure

Optimal: <120 systolic and <80 diastolic

Pre-Hypertension: 120-139 systolic or 80-89 diastolic

Stage 1 Hypertension: 140-159 systolic or 90-99 diastolic

Stage 2 Hypertension: >160 systolic or >100 diastolic

• When you lower your blood pressure, you lower your risk of:

– Stroke by 40%

– Heart Attack by 25%

– Heart Failure by 50%

Lowering Your Blood Pressure: Good Things Can Happen!

• Make healthy habits

– Take a 30 minute walk everyday

– Avoid being overweight

– Lower salt in your diet

– Follow a heart-healthy diet (low fat, lots of fruits/veggies and 2-3 servings of low fat dairy products every day)

• Take the right medicines

– There are many good and safe medicines

– Most people will need more than one

Lowering Your Blood Pressure: What Can You Do?

Tackling a Risk Factor:

HIGH CHOLESTEROL

Know Your Numbers:The Cholesterol (Lipid) Profile

Total Cholesterol Goal: <200 mg/dL

“Bad Cholesterol” LDL Goal:(Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol)

<100 mg/dL

“Good Cholesterol” HDL Goal:(High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol)

>50 mg/dL

Triglycerides Goal: <150 mg/dL

• Main Target of Treatment = LDL Cholesterol

• Healthy behaviors are important!

• If you already have heart disease or diabetes, or if your cholesterol level or risk is high, you might need medicine to lower your cholesterol

Note: Women who are pregnant, nursing, or who may become pregnant should not be prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications

Lowering Your Cholesterol:What Can You Do?

Tackling a Risk Factor:

DIABETES

Type 2 diabetes increased 50% in the last 10 years

•A woman with diabetes has 5x the risk of heart disease than a woman without diabetes

•Women with diabetes get heart disease at a younger age

•If you have diabetes, it is important to have ALL of your risk factors treated:

– Blood Pressure– Cholesterol– No Smoking!

Women and Diabetes

Know Your Numbers:Diabetes Guidelines*

Optimal fasting blood sugar level:

<100 mg/dL

Impaired fasting glucose:Prediabetes

100-125 mg/dL

*American Diabetes Association Guidelines

You have diabetes if:

Your fasting blood sugar is 126 or more (and tests at that level or higher on a second reading on a different day)

• Research shows that diabetes can be prevented, or at least postponed by improving diet, losing weight, and increasing physical activity

• People at risk for diabetes who follow a diet and exercise can decrease their risk of developing diabetes by more than 50%

– This has been proven in a trial where the people lost an average of less than 10 pounds.

• Small steps make a BIG difference!

Lowering Your Risk for Diabetes:What can you do?

OTHER RISK

FACTORS

• Women who smoke have 2-6 times the risk of sudden cardiac death than non-smokers

• That risk is even higher for heavy smokers

• Second-hand smoke increases health risks, too

• Health benefits begin as soon as you quit!

• Talk to your nurse or doctor about how to stop:

– Quitting is difficult

– Nicotine replacement or medications may be helpful

Smoking: The #1 Preventable Risk

• A growing problem in the United States

• Being overweight increases risk of:– High blood pressure– Cholesterol abnormalities– Diabetes

• Exercise recommendations to lose weight:

– 60-90 minutes of moderate-intensity activity every day

• All women should reduce saturated fat intake to less than 7% of calories

Overweight and Obesity

• Choose fat free milk instead of whole milk

• Park far away, so you can walk

• When eating out, share an entrée or save half for the next day

• Wear a pedometer to count your steps – then increase your steps gradually (2,000 steps = 1 mile)

• Walk to a co-worker’s desk instead of emailing

Easy Ways to “Cut” and “Spend” Calories

• Certain risk factors tend to “go together” and increase your risk for getting diabetes or heart disease:– Overweight, especially when carried around the

waist– High blood pressure– Cholesterol abnormalities (low HDL or high

triglycerides)– Elevated blood glucose

• People with these risk factors need to be treated very aggressively for heart disease prevention

• Heart healthy habits are key!

The Metabolic Syndrome

Risk Factors Add Up!

Exercise helps:

•Lower blood pressure

•Prevent diabetes

•Lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and raise HDL (good cholesterol)

•Weight management

•Manage stress

•Bone health

Exercise is Key!

Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy (HT) is NOT recommended to prevent heart disease.

•Research trials have failed to demonstrate that HT lowers risk.

•It may increase stroke

•Women should focus on the things we know really work to improve heart health

•Hormone therapy may still be used to treat menopause symptoms – talk to your nurse or doctor

What About Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy?

When Prevention Fails:

HAVING A HEART

ATTACK

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, burning or squeezing sensation in the chest

• Pain in your chest, neck, arms, or back

• Unusual shortness of breath

• Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating

• Unusual fatigue

• Feeling of doom – a sense that something really bad is happening, or about to happen

How Do You Know:Symptoms of a Heart Attack

• You may not have all symptoms

• Symptoms are different for everyone

• It may not be as dramatic as on TV or movies

• You know your body – trust your instincts!

• Immediate treatment that can limit the amount of heart muscle damage is crucial

SYMPTOMS REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ACTION! CALL 9-1-1

How Do You Know:Symptoms of a Heart Attack

When Prevention Fails:

HAVING A STROKE

• Sudden numbness or weakness in your face, arm, or leg – especially on one side of your body

• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

• Sudden trouble seeing in one eye, or both

• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

How Do You Know:Symptoms of a Stroke

• A stroke is a brain attack

• Emergency treatment that can limit the amount of brain damage must be started quickly

• It is usually not the person experiencing the stroke that calls 9-1-1

• Make your family aware of the symptoms

SYMPTOMS REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ACTION! CALL 9-1-1

How Do You Know:Symptoms of a Stroke

KEY TAKE-AWAYS

• Know the symptoms of heart attack and stroke

• Know your risk factors for heart disease

• Work with your nurse or doctor to reduce your risk:– Avoid tobacco products and second-hand smoke

– Have your blood pressure and cholesterol profiles measured (and blood sugar if at risk for diabetes)

– Follow their advice to manage risks with healthy behavior changes and medicine, if needed

– Eat a heart healthy diet – low in fat and salt

– Exercise – walking for 30 minutes each day is perfect

Key Take-Aways

Key Take-Aways

Spread the Word: TELL A FRIEND,

neighbor, sister or co-worker

Online Resources