Learn more about your risk for heart disease
National Wear Red Day is Feb. 3, kicking off Heart Health Awareness Month for 2017, and although this is its 15th year running, heart disease remains the number 1 killer of men and women. For women, heart disease is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined.
The American Heart Association is encouraging women to wear red on Feb. 3 to continue to bring awareness of this disease, but also to celebrate some of the strides that have been made in the last 15 years. Women are far more likely today to make diet and behavioral changes to protect their hearts, as well as seeing their healthcare provider regularly to keep track of blood pressure and cholesterol levels. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease related deaths in women have decreased by 30 percent in the last 10 years.
Still, 1 in 3 women die each year of heart disease or stroke, and the disease does not discriminate by age. Changes in your lifestyle can lower risk for heart disease, but family history is outside of your control.
A woman’s best defense is to understand the factors that can increase her risk for heart disease. These include physical activity—or the lack of it, cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, smoking habits, diabetes and weight. Working to improve any of these factors can reduce your risk for heart disease by as much as 80 percent.
To understand your risk for heart disease, and learn more about your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI (body mass index), see your healthcare provider or contact Stark Women’s Center.