February is American Heart Month, a time when all people—especially women—are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Women in the United States are experiencing unacceptable and avoidable heart-related illness and death, and nearly half of U.S. women do not recognize that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) encourages women to listen to their hearts and speak up for their health so that they no longer experience delayed recognition, diagnosis, and treatment for cardiac events, such as heart attacks.
Heart-health disparities specific to women widen and deepen when combined with race, ethnicity, and other social factors.
Know the ABCs of heart health:
A: Take aspirin as directed by your health care professional.
B: Control your blood pressure.
C: Manage your cholesterol.
S: Don’t smoke.
Additionally, blood sugar is a factor. There are several blood tests that measure how much sugar is in the blood. People with higher blood sugar or “blood glucose” are at an increased risk of heart disease. The A1C measures average blood glucose over the past two to three months.
Everyone should practice healthy habits to prevent high blood pressure and control other risk factors. This includes eating a healthy diet, being physically active and keeping a healthy weight, not smoking, limiting how much alcohol you drink, and getting enough sleep.
Risk factors are conditions or behaviors that increase the chance of developing a disease. For heart disease, there are two types of risk factors – those cannot be controlled and those that can.
Risk Factors That Can Not Be Controlled:
- Age – The risk for heart disease increases with age. Up to age 64, men are more likely to get high blood pressure than women are. At 65 and older, women are more likely to get high blood pressure.
- Family History – Having an immediate family member with heart disease increases one’s risk.
- Race – African Americans are more likely to develop high blood pressure than other racial backgrounds in the United States.
Risk Factors That Can Be Controlled
- Smoking – Cigarette smoking increases the risk of heart disease. Tobacco can cause hardening of the arteries. Cigarettes also raise blood pressure and reduce the amount of oxygen the blood carries.
- High Blood Pressure – Blood pressure is the pressure exerted on the arteries when the heart pumps. There are no symptoms of high blood pressure, and most people do not know that they have it.
- High Cholesterol – Cholesterol is a fatty substance that builds up in the arteries. The body does require some fats and cholesterol in moderation, but having too much raises the risk of heart disease.
- Obesity – Obesity is excess body fat. It has been linked to heart disease and its other risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
- Nutrition – A high fat diet has been linked to heart disease risk.
- Physical Inactivity – Not being physically active can raise the risk of heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
- Diabetes – People with diabetes have a much higher risk for heart disease.
It is important for individuals to know what their blood pressure, cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI) are. People who have diabetes, or are at high risk for the condition, should also know their blood sugar (glucose). A doctor can advise on how often to have each of these tests done, based on an individual’s personal risk.
—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Maryland Department of Health