As competitive women know, it's always fun to beat the guys at something. It could be a friendly wager, card game or backyard sporting event. After the victory, we've been known to break into happy dances or humorously gloat for a few days. There's another area where women are increasing our lead over men but it's definitely not reason for celebration: Heart Disease.
In Iowa, about 12 women die from heart disease and stroke each day.
Just look at the following facts from the American Heart Association:
- Every minute in the United States, someone's wife, mother, daughter or sister dies from heart disease, stroke or other form of cardiovascular disease (CVD);
- More than one in three women is living with CVD, including nearly half of all African American women and 34 percent of white women; and
- While heart disease death rates among men have declined steadily over the last 25 years, rates among women have fallen significantly less.
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in America today and it's the leading cause of disability for females too. That's why it's important to understand the prevalence of heart disease among women and recognize its risk factors. For women, risk increases at age 55 and if there's a strong family history of heart disease. There are six risks that women should consider and monitor to decrease chances of developing heart disease or having it worsen, including:
- Smoking
- High Blood Pressure - 140/90 or above
- High Cholesterol
- Overweight/Obesity
- Physical Inactivity
- Diabetes
The good news is women are becoming more aware of wellness issues and the information above doesn't have to be scary. It can be used to help identify your risks for health disease or be shared with the important women in your life. Proactively doing so means you're taking charge for beating the odds against heart disease and embarking upon a winning strategy for the future.