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*Heart disease includes coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, angina, and other conditions. 1. Every year more than 500,000 American women die of cardiovascular diseases, making it the number one killer of American women. (Source: American Heart Association.) 2. About 6.5 million American women of all ages suffer from coronary heart disease (CHD). The lifetime risk of a woman developing CHD after age 40 is 32 percent. At age 70, lifetime risk is 24 percent. 3. African-American women are more likely to die of CHD than Caucasian women. African-American women have greater incidence of high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which increase the risk of heart disease. They are more likely to die from stroke and heart attacks than Caucasian women. Heart disease risk is also higher among Mexican Americans, Native Americans, native Hawaiians and some Asian Americans. 4. Smoking is one of the four major risk factors for coronary artery disease (CHD). Quitting smoking dramatically lowers the risk of a heart attack and also reduces the risk of a second heart attack in people who have already had one. 5. About 25 million American women have high blood pressure, including more than half of women over 55. Blood pressure is considered high when it stays at or above 135/85 mmHg over a period of time. 6. One-fourth of all American women have blood cholesterol levels high enough to pose a serious risk for heart disease. More than half of women over age 55 need to lower their blood cholesterol, and a quarter of all American women have blood cholesterol levels high enough to pose a serious risk for CHD. A desirable total cholesterol level for adults without heart disease is less than 200 mg/dL (or 200 milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood). A level of 240 mg/dL is or above is high. But even levels in the borderline-high category of 200 to 239 mg/dL still increase the risk of heart disease. 7. Several recent studies have reported that moderate drinkers -- for women that means no more than one drink per day -- are less likely to develop heart disease than people who don't drink any alcohol. If you are a nondrinker, this is not a recommendation to start using alcohol. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, or 5 ounces of wine, or 1 1/2 ounces of 80-proof liquor. 8. Overweight
women are much more likely to develop heart-related problems, even if
they have no other risk factors. The more overweight you are, the higher
your risk for heart disease. For
your free copy of the National Women's Health Report, "Women and
Heart Disease," click
here. |
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