Flickr Image by cattycamehome.
February is American Heart Month. I’ve received several emails regarding this, but I hadn’t given it much thought until I did a little research. I found that (American Heart Association):
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Cardiovascular disease kills 480,000 women a year, about one per minute.
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1 in 3 adults suffer from some form of CVD.
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Coronary heart disease is the #1 killer of women over age 25.
Okay, that was a wake up call. So I decided to do some further research to find out what the risk factors are. While your age, race & heredity can affect your chances of heart disease, there are some other factors that are within your control (American Heart Association):
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High blood pressure
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Smoking
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High cholesterol
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Physical inactivity
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Obesity or overweight
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Diabetes
I also remember reading somewhere that women who had high blood pressure during pregnancy are at higher risk for heart disease. All of this is enough to make me want to take action. I’m going to discuss my history and risk factors with my doctor in a couple of weeks (and I really need to get myself to the gym!).
The Go Red For Women organization provides women with knowledge and tools so they can take action to reduce their risks of heart disease and stroke, and if you join the Go Red For Women movement (it’s free!) you get a cute red dress pin that you can wear to show your support. Knowledge is contagious so please spread this message to your family and friends.
Catgirl1007
Wow! Those stats are mind blowing!