It’s that time of year again! Feburary is National Heart Month! Oh boy!
photo credit: jcoterhals via photopin cc
As startling as they may be and as uncomfortable they may make us feel, here are some facts about women and heart disease:
- According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, killing 292,188 in 2009. That is 1 in every 4 female deaths.
- The same number of women as men die each year from heart disease. Only about half of women recognize that heart disease is the number one killer of women.
- Almost two-thirds of women who die suddenly from heart disease had no previous symptoms.
- High blood pressure, smoking and high LDL cholesterol (the bad dude) are major risk factors for heart disease.
- Other risk factors include diabetes,overweight and obesity, poor diet, excessive alcohol use and physical inactivity.
The best thing you can do is to know your numbers – your blood pressure, cholesterol and …ahem…your weight. Even if you don’t need no stinkin’ scale to show your weight (let’s be real. We already know if we need to lose a few), your health care provider can help you determine what your other numbers are.
The CDC is a great resource for learning more about women and heart disease.
Notice the last risk factor? Physical inactivity. That is why I write this blog, remember? Let’s find our active life together.
Get your groove on!