Heart Health
Taking Control of Women’s Heart Health
Women’s History Month is a perfect time to reflect on our mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, and all the other important women in our lives – past and present – who have been impacted by heart disease — the No. 1 killer of women. Sadly, almost half of America’s women are unaware of their risk. As a result, they are less likely to receive the recommended care to treat or prevent this deadly disease. We must change that.
The good news is that women today have greater access to the kind of care that can help prevent heart disease.
In the past, the high price tag on even a routine doctor’s visit could keep women from detecting heart problems early. Now, thanks to the health care law, the Affordable Care Act, women who join new health insurance plans and those on Medicare can get free preventive care, including screenings that detect raised levels of cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease risk factors.
One of the best ways to take control of your heart health is by keeping track of these important health indicators. The health insurance reform law makes this easier than ever.
But prevention cannot stop at the doctor’s office door. Most of us know how important it is to eat right and exercise. But when we’re in a hurry, it can seem easier to get a burger from the local drive-thru than to prepare a healthy meal at home. After a long day at work, the couch may be more appealing than the treadmill. And these choices make a big difference: if you do just four simple things—eat right, be physically active, don’t smoke, and keep a healthy weight—you can reduce your risk of heart disease by as much as 82 percent.
Together, we are committed to helping women make these healthy choices. As part of the health law, we have redoubled our efforts to help state and local governments and community organizations reduce risks for heart disease, like obesity and tobacco use.
We’re supporting programs that bring fresh fruits and vegetables to neighborhoods where healthy food is hard to find or too expensive for low-income citizens. We’re making calorie information available on many restaurant menus and vending machines. And we’re working to increase the number of tobacco-free workplaces.
In addition, we are reaching out directly to women to make sure they have the information they need to live a healthy life. For example, access to emergency care within the first hour of a heart attack can help avoid lasting heart damage or death. But many women do not recognize the warning signs or symptoms of heart disease and delay seeking care.
That’s why last month, with the support of the American Heart Association, WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, and more than a dozen other groups, the Department of Health and Human Services launched the Make the Call, Don’t Miss a Beat campaign. This program will help women recognize the seven warning signs of a heart attack and encourage them to call 9-1-1 as soon as any of these symptoms occur.
While government and health organizations have a responsibility to educate the public, we can’t solve this problem alone. The people who can help America make the biggest gains in the fight against heart disease are women themselves.
Women need to have frank conversations with our doctors about our heart health. You can learn more by consulting websites like HealthCare.gov, hearttruth.gov, womenheart.org, and goredforwomen.org. These sites have everything you need to get started towards a healthier heart, from online profiles that determine your risk to healthy recipes and tips to keep your heart healthy. WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease also provides on-line and in-person support networks for women living with heart disease.
For your own sake and for the people you love, take control of your heart health and make sure you’re treating your heart right. It’s the only one you’ve got.
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Nancy Brown, American Heart Association, CEO
Lisa Tate, WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, CEO
About the Author
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Nancy Brown, American Heart Association, CEO
Lisa Tate, WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, CEO
Health Matters: Heart Health
|
|
Cloud b Sleep Sheep Four Soothing Sounds From Nature $15.19 Soothe your child into a restful, relaxing nap or night of sleep with the Sleep Sheep from Cloud b. This soft and adorable sleep time pal plays calming sounds that help drown out distracting noises and let baby drift into dreams. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-ind… |
|
|
Crane Adorable 1 Gallon Cool Mist Humidifier Adorable Crane Cool Mist Humidifier provides additional comfort to cold symptoms, dry itchy skin, and chapped lips. The whisper quiet humidifier operates on a low power consumption providing up to 11 hours of moisture from a removable one gallon water tank. Includes an automatic shut off safety feature when water tank is empty…. |
|
|
Prince Lionheart Jumbo Toy Hammock $7.99 Prince Lionheart Jumbo Toy HammockGet that clutter off the floor and take back your child’s bedroom. This nifty Jumbo Toy Hammock by Prince Lionheart is a creative way to get your kids to pick up their toys. This stretchy hammock expands to over 6 feet and is easy to install. The hammock includes 3 hooks and can be used in any corner.Features include: •Gets toys off the floor•Expands to … |
|
|
Body Story: The Beast Within Unravel the mysteries of the two most important organs in the body – the heart and the brain. Travel inside the body and witness a heart attack in progress. Learn why a man’s animal instincts take over under the influence of alcohol…. |
|
|
Body and Soul [VHS] $13.96 … |
|
|
An Affair of the Heart … |
|
|
P90X: Tony Horton’s 90-Day Extreme Home Fitness Workout DVD Program $139.80 Tired of ineffective workouts that sound great but produce less-than-optimal results? Turn to the P90X Extreme Home Fitness system, a bundle of 12 sweat-inducing, muscle-pumping workouts designed to transform your body from regular to ripped in just 90 days. Hosted by personal trainer Tony Horton, the series of DVDs will help you get lean, bulk up, or grow stronger, with an endless variety of mix-… |
|
|
Yoga for Beginners Boxed Set (Yoga for Stress Relief / AM-PM Yoga for Beginners / Essential Yoga for Inflexible People) $16.87 YOGA FOR BEGINNERS AND BEYOND – DVD Movie… |
|
|
The Perfect Pregnancy Workout vol. 1 $17.75 You’ve got nine months to prepare for the challenge of your life. Use every minute! The Perfect Pregnancy Workout will: -improve your mood -reduce lower back pain -develop mental discipline to control labor pain -tone your lower body to handle the demands of labor and birth -make it easier to lose weight after your baby is born -strengthen your upper body to lift and hold your baby -help eliminate… |
|
|
Personal Electronic USB Medical Identification Data Device $29.95 Now all you need is your iD1. Identification Devices LLC has introduced iD – a small, portable electronic identification device that offers emergency response personnel (Police, Fire Rescue, EMTs) information such as your name, emergency contacts, a list of your current health conditions, medications, medical history, blood type, and allergies, all of your critical-care information, so you can be … |
Tags: diet, food, health, heart health, heart healthy diet, heart healthy foods, heart healthy meals, heart healthy recipes, nutrition, reference
