Many Celebrities, News Personalities Raise Heart Disease Awareness

Editor's note: The National Wear Red Day on Friday Feb 5, 2010 is an annual national awareness campaign for women about heart disease. The campaign involves many organizations including the federal government health agencies like the national Heart Lung and Blood Institute and American Heart Association. The purpose is to spread the message according to the government agency that "heart disease doesn't care what you wear - it's the #1 killer of women." The "red dress" was the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness created by the Heart Truth in 2002 to give American women a wake up call. We don't know everything, but we do know that a modified diet can completely reverse coronary heart disease.

On Friday, news personalities, celebrities, and American Heart Association spokespersons throughout the nation donned red clothing increase heart disease awareness, especially among women.

Although many people may assume that the number one cause of death among American women is breast cancer, such is not the case; heart disease is the only affliction that can claim that particular harrowing statistic.

And, according to the American Heart Association, heart disease has risen among the female gender, while it has decreased in men.

Why the discrepancy among the sexes?  In citing a 2003 article in Circulation, WebMd reports that it may simply be due to the fact that physicians are better able to diagnose the disease in women, which can present very differently in women than it does in men.

Female Heart Attack Symptoms

Most men who have a heart attack report a crushing pain in the chest; one so excruciating there can be no doubt that something is terribly wrong.  Women, on the other hand often report more generalized pain and discomfort, such as:

*dizziness

*fatigue

*nausea

*pain that can radiate through the shoulders and back

More recent reports have acknowledged that women can also have more acute symptoms resembling the male response to a heart attack.  Either way, the AHA says that men are more likely to seek medical attention for a suspected myocardial infarction, while women typically ignore the symptoms, or at least try to wait them out.

Mitigating the Risk

Certainly, women should consider the obvious:  reducing heart attack risk has a lot to do with taking care of themselves, something the average female tends to put off.  However, incorporating the following relatively easy habits can go a long way toward keeping the heart healthy:

*Eat a diet rich in fresh produce.  There’s no need to be complete vegetarian, although reducing fat intake is imperative.  WebMd suggests making a concerted effort to choose leaner cuts of meat.

*Stay active.  Try to walk at least 10,000 steps a day.  Prevention suggests purchasing a pedometer to track the overall number of steps you’re taking per day.  For some, this type of outside motivation can help keep them psyched.  However, the pedometer can become counterproductive if a person tries to start right out of the chute at 10,000 steps.  Prevention further emphasizes the need to track an average number of steps per day, then making a concerted effort to increase the average until the 10,000 step goal is reached.

*Floss your teeth daily.  Yes, you read right; studies are showing that periodontal disease can be a contributing factor to heart attack risk.  Oral hygiene should be a priority.

Finally, become more educated about the risks of heart disease by talking to your doctor about your specific heart disease risks.  Many physicians have a weight loss plan they typically suggest to those who want to change their eating habits.

The bottom line?  Be proactive by trying learning what it takes to keep your heart functioning well for the long haul.

By Rachel Stockton