Heart of Truth for Women: It's Ageless

Auburn, Feb. 9, 2004---One in three American women dies of heart disease, making it the #1 killer of women. Because heart disease is ageless, women must take action to protect their heart health, regardless of age.

Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease in America. Often referred to simply as heart disease, develops over time and can occur as early as the teen years. During midlife, a woman’s risk for heart disease increases dramatically. In part, this is because a woman’s body stops producing estrogen, and women tend to develop factors that increase their risk for heart disease. Unless heart disease is treated, it does not stop developing but continues to worsen.

One in 12 women age 45 to 64 has heart disease, and this number increases to 1 in 4 for women over age 65.

“It’s never too late to take steps against heart disease,” said Dr. Kathleen Tajeu, a community health specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. “By taking action, women can reduce their risk of developing heart-related problems. “

There are seven major factors that increase women’s heart disease risk. Of those, family history of heart disease and being age 55 or older are factors beyond one’s control. The other five factors -- smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity and diabetes -- are all controllable.

Often, making simple lifestyle changes is all that’s needed. In fact, women can lower their heart disease risk by as much as 82 percent just by leading a healthy lifestyle -- eating less fatty foods, exercising regularly, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and keeping cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar numbers in check.

Heart disease and its risk factors can affect women of every age.

Young Women

· Lifestyle-related factors that increase heart disease risk are increasingly common among girls, teenagers and young adults.

· Physical activity levels drop sharply as girls become teenagers, and about 14 percent of young women are physically inactive.

· About 15 percent of girls ages 6 to 19 are overweight.

Middle-aged Women

· At menopause, a woman’s heart disease risk increases significantly.

· Each year, about 86,000 women ages 45 to 64 have a heart attack.

· About half of women who have a heart attack before age 65 die within eight years.

· Heart disease rates are 2 to 3 times higher for postmenopausal women than for those of the same age who have not yet undergone menopause.

· Beginning at age 50, more women than men have an elevated total cholesterol level.

Older Women

· About 14 million women aged 65 and older have high blood pressure.

· Most women over age 65 have obvious heart disease or “silent” atherosclerosis. In silent atherosclerosis, there are no symptoms, but fatty plaque builds up in arteries.

· Each year, about 314,000 women age 65 or older have a heart attack.

About 6.6 million American women already have heart disease. Heart disease has no quick fix -- even if a special procedure such as an angioplasty is performed, heart disease will worsen unless treated with lifestyle changes and medication.

Research data shows that about 35 percent of women who have had a heart attack will have another within six years and about half of women who have a heart attack will be disabled with heart failure within six years.

Source: Dr. Kathleen Tajeu, Community Health Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-2210.

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