Women's HeartAdvantage


What is the single biggest health issue facing women today? Cancer? Osteoporosis? Arthritis? None of these. It’s heart disease. Surprised? Most people are. Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for women (men, too). A recent nationwide survey found that fewer than one in five of all women express concerns about heart health to their physicians. Fewer than one in three women even realize that heart disease is their greatest health risk. The numbers are astounding: Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of more than 500,000 women in the United States each year, striking more women than the next seven causes of death combined, and almost twice as many as all forms of cancer. Half of all women will die of heart disease or stroke, compared with one in 30 who will die of breast cancer. More women than men have died of cardiovascular disease every year since 1984, and more women die within a year of having a heart attack than do men. Crouse Hospital wants to: help women learn about heart disease and symptoms teach women how to keep their hearts healthy help doctors prevent, detect and treat heart disease and heart attacks in women reduce second heart attacks in women save lives A key focus of educating people about heart disease is to demonstrate that while women and men share many of the same risk factors and symptoms of cardiovascular disease, there are gender differences to consider. For example, smoking, high blood pressure and elevated blood cholesterol levels are among the most prevalent and preventable risk factors for men and women. Other factors include heredity, stress, alcohol consumption and diabetes. Exercise, a healthy diet and abstinence from smoking are the universal first defenses against heart disease. Post-menopausal women must be more vigilant about certain risk factors, because of the increased incidence of heart disease in this stage of life. Moreover, men and women experience different symptoms of a heart attack. Facts About Women and Heart Disease *We hope you find this information helpful – it just may save your life.*

What is the single biggest health issue facing women today?

Cancer? Osteoporosis? Arthritis?

None of these. It’s heart disease. Surprised? Most people are. Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for women (men, too). A recent nationwide survey found that fewer than one in five of all women express concerns about heart health to their physicians. Fewer than one in three women even realize that heart disease is their greatest health risk. The numbers are astounding:

Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of more than 500,000 women in the United States each year, striking more women than the next seven causes of death combined, and almost twice as many as all forms of cancer.
Half of all women will die of heart disease or stroke, compared with one in 30 who will die of breast cancer.
More women than men have died of cardiovascular disease every year since 1984, and more women die within a year of having a heart attack than do men.

Crouse Hospital wants to:

help women learn about heart disease and symptoms
teach women how to keep their hearts healthy
help doctors prevent, detect and treat heart disease and heart attacks in women
reduce second heart attacks in women
save lives

A key focus of educating people about heart disease is to demonstrate that while women and men share many of the same risk factors and symptoms of cardiovascular disease, there are gender differences to consider.

For example, smoking, high blood pressure and elevated blood cholesterol levels are among the most prevalent and preventable risk factors for men and women. Other factors include heredity, stress, alcohol consumption and diabetes. Exercise, a healthy diet and abstinence from smoking are the universal first defenses against heart disease.

Post-menopausal women must be more vigilant about certain risk factors, because of the increased incidence of heart disease in this stage of life. Moreover, men and women experience different symptoms of a heart attack.

Facts About Women and Heart Disease

We hope you find this information helpful – it just may save your life.