submitted by Linda Schoene, Congregational Nurse
The Red Dress, introduced in 2002, was designed to increase awareness that women are at risk for heart disease. Since then, the first Friday in February is celebrated as National Wear Red Day. Research indicates that women’s awareness of their risk for heart disease has increased.
Risk factors for heart disease include:
· High blood pressure
· High cholesterol
· Diabetes
· Smoking
· Being overweight
· Being physically inactive
· Family history of heart disease
· Age (over 55 for women)
Some risk factors such as age and family history cannot be changed. For women, age becomes a factor because women are more likely to develop heart disease after menopause. Women who go through early menopause, either naturally, after hysterectomy or as a result of chemotherapy are twice as likely to develop heart disease as women their age who have not experienced menopause.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways that women can lower their risk. Here are some suggestions:
· Identify your personal risk factors
· Have regular check ups
· Partner with your health care provider to monitor such factors as blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol Know your numbers!!!
· To protect your heart, address EACH risk factor you have. Exercising regularly won’t compensate for smoking. Risk factors individually increase a woman’s chances for developing heart disease. Multiple risk factors “gang up” and create more serious risk.
So the message is clear – begin now to learn about your risk factors! Exercise, enjoy a heart healthy diet, stop smoking and control your diabetes.