With so much media attention on the latest and greatest workout or diet craze, one topic that gets pushed to the side and overlooked in the high intensity rush to health is the topic of women and heart disease. Here are some startling statistics according to the American Heart Association:
- Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined.
- Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute.
- An estimated 43 million women in the US are affected by heart disease.
- Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
- Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease.
- The symptoms of heart disease can be different in women and men, and are often misunderstood.
- While 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, 1 in 3 dies of heart disease.
- Only 1 in 5 American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat.
- Women comprise only 24 percent of participants in all heart-related studies.
February 6, 2015 is the National Wear Red Day in support of research on women and heart disease. Other than wear red, what can you do to support this cause? If you are a mother, daughter, aunt, grandparent, granddaughter or BFF, you can become aware of everyday choices and how they might affect your risk of developing heart disease. You can encourage the women in your life to do the same. Here are 6 steps you can do right now to play the odds in your favor:
- Reduce sugar and white flour products in your diet. Sugar is added to 80% of processed food. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day for women.
- Monitor food portions. Be mindful of what the serving size is on a package. Use a smaller plate.
- Eat more vegetables and less processed food.
- Walk 30 minutes every day. If you don’t have time, break it up into segments.
- Manage stress. Stress can manifest as physical aches and pains, low energy, anxiety and anger among other icky feelings. One of the best ways to manage stress is to give yourself a time out. Sit alone. Lock your office door if you need to. Go sit in your car or find a place where you can sit, close your eyes and breathe. Create some space between you and the surrounding frantic world.
- Know your numbers; find out what your risk for heart disease is.
Increase your awareness, be mindful of choices, go for a walk and dig out that red dress in the back of your closet.