What’s Cardiovascular Disease? What’s Cardiovascular Disease?

CVD is heart and blood vessel diseases CVD is heart and blood vessel diseases —— diseases that affect the circulatory system. diseases that affect the circulatory system.

              

ExamplesExamples• Coronary heart disease (heart attack)Coronary heart disease (heart attack)

• Cerebrovascular disease (stroke and TIA)Cerebrovascular disease (stroke and TIA)

• High blood pressureHigh blood pressure

• Congestive heart failureCongestive heart failure

• Congenital cardiovascular defectsCongenital cardiovascular defects

• Peripheral vascular diseasePeripheral vascular disease

CVD Claims 500,000 Women’s CVD Claims 500,000 Women’s Lives Every YearLives Every Year• CVD CVD —— kills more women than the next 7 kills more women than the next 7

causes of death causes of death combinedcombined• Breast cancer Breast cancer —— kills 1 in 30 women kills 1 in 30 women • CVD CVD —— kills 1 of every 2.5 women kills 1 of every 2.5 women

Women, Heart Disease and StrokeWomen, Heart Disease and Stroke

• Heart disease is women’s No. 1 killerHeart disease is women’s No. 1 killer• Stroke is women’s No. 3 killerStroke is women’s No. 3 killer

What Women Don’t KnowWhat Women Don’t Know

• Coronary heart disease rates in women rise Coronary heart disease rates in women rise 2-3 times after menopause2-3 times after menopause

• Blacks are at higher risk than whites Blacks are at higher risk than whites • 1 of 3 Hispanic females dies of diseases of 1 of 3 Hispanic females dies of diseases of

the heart and strokethe heart and stroke

Survey HistorySurvey History

• In 1997, AHA launched a major public In 1997, AHA launched a major public awareness campaign on women and awareness campaign on women and heart diseaseheart disease

• In 2000 and 2003, follow-up surveys were In 2000 and 2003, follow-up surveys were donedone

              

2003 Survey Findings2003 Survey Findings• Cancer still perceived as women’s leading Cancer still perceived as women’s leading

health problem health problem • Women under age 45 and certain Women under age 45 and certain

racial/ethnic groups had lower awareness racial/ethnic groups had lower awareness that heart disease is women’s No. 1 killerthat heart disease is women’s No. 1 killer

• Women know of CVD risk factors in general Women know of CVD risk factors in general but often not their own risksbut often not their own risks

Go Red For WomenGo Red For Women This campaign helps women discover unique This campaign helps women discover unique lifesaving power by learning about heart lifesaving power by learning about heart disease and stroke and taking positive action disease and stroke and taking positive action to reduce their risk to reduce their risk

Go Red For WomenGo Red For Women

Sponsored nationally bySponsored nationally by

With educational grants fromWith educational grants from

Campaign GoalsCampaign Goals • To raise awareness To raise awareness • To prevent heart disease and strokeTo prevent heart disease and stroke• To save livesTo save lives

Enroll and BenefitEnroll and Benefit • 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278)1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278)• americanheart.org americanheart.org • Choose To MoveChoose To Move and and Simple SolutionsSimple Solutions• Buy designated products from stores listed Buy designated products from stores listed

at the at the Go Red For WomenGo Red For Women Web site; part of Web site; part of the revenue supports our associationthe revenue supports our association

Impact of the February 2004 Impact of the February 2004 Campaign LaunchCampaign Launch• Media Impressions Media Impressions —— more than 800 million more than 800 million• Contact Center Contact Center —— 32,397 calls in a week 32,397 calls in a week• Web Site Web Site ——

visitors doubled visitors doubled

Why We Need Go Red For WomenWhy We Need Go Red For Women

High Blood Pressure (HBP)…High Blood Pressure (HBP)…The Silent KillerThe Silent KillerWomen age 20 and older who have HBP:Women age 20 and older who have HBP:• White females White females —— 30%30% • Black/African-American females Black/African-American females —— 45%45% • Mexican-American Mexican-American

females females —— 30%30%

HBP HBP —— Learn Your Numbers Learn Your Numbers• Systolic pressure (the higher number) Systolic pressure (the higher number) ——

pressure in arteries when the heart beatspressure in arteries when the heart beats• Diastolic pressure Diastolic pressure —— pressure when the pressure when the

heart rests between beatsheart rests between beats• HBP HBP – Systolic pressure of Systolic pressure of

140 mm Hg140 mm Hg or more or more– Or diastolic pressure of Or diastolic pressure of

90 mm Hg 90 mm Hg or more (or both) or more (or both) on two or more occasions on two or more occasions

Why We Need Go Red For WomenWhy We Need Go Red For Women

Unhealthy Cholesterol LevelsUnhealthy Cholesterol LevelsWomen age 20 and older with blood Women age 20 and older with blood cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dL or higher:cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dL or higher:• WWhite females — hite females — 54% 54% • BBlack females — lack females — 46%46% • Mexican-American Mexican-American

females — females — 45%45%

Do You Know Your Total Do You Know Your Total Cholesterol Numbers?Cholesterol Numbers? Less than Less than 200 mg/dL200 mg/dL —— Desirable (lower risk) Desirable (lower risk)200–239 mg/dL200–239 mg/dL —— Borderline high (higher risk) Borderline high (higher risk)240 mg/dL 240 mg/dL and above and above —— High blood High blood cholesterol, more than twice the risk of cholesterol, more than twice the risk of desirable leveldesirable level

Note: Cholesterol levels are measured Note: Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per

deciliter (dL) of blood. deciliter (dL) of blood.

Why We Need Go Red For WomenWhy We Need Go Red For Women

SmokingSmoking• Smoking is the single mostSmoking is the single most preventable cause of death in the USpreventable cause of death in the US• 21 21 percent of American women age 18 percent of American women age 18 and older smoke and older smoke — — 22.6 million women22.6 million women

                

SmokingSmoking

• If you don’t smoke, don’t startIf you don’t smoke, don’t start• If you smoke, quitIf you smoke, quit• Avoid others’ tobacco smokeAvoid others’ tobacco smoke

Why We Need Go Red For WomenWhy We Need Go Red For Women

Physical InactivityPhysical InactivityInactive women:Inactive women:• White females White females —— 36%36%• Black females Black females —— 55%55%• Hispanic females Hispanic females —— 57%57%• Asian/Pacific Islander Asian/Pacific Islander

females females —— 46% 46%

Physical InactivityPhysical Inactivity• Increases heart disease and stroke riskIncreases heart disease and stroke risk• 30 minutes or more of activity on most or all 30 minutes or more of activity on most or all

days of the week helps days of the week helps reduce risk by controlling reduce risk by controlling blood cholesterol, diabetes blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity and helping to and obesity and helping to lower HBP lower HBP

Why We Need Go Red For WomenWhy We Need Go Red For Women

Obesity / OverweightObesity / Overweight• Overweight/obese women age 20 and Overweight/obese women age 20 and

older:older:• White females White females —— 57%57% • Black females Black females —— 77%77% • Mexican-American Mexican-American

females females — — 72%72%

Why We Need Go Red For WomenWhy We Need Go Red For Women

DiabetesDiabetes • American females with physician-diagnosed American females with physician-diagnosed

diabetes diabetes —— 5.5% 5.5%• American females with undiagnosed American females with undiagnosed

diabetes diabetes —— 2.5% 2.5%• Total American women age 20 and olderTotal American women age 20 and older with diabetes with diabetes —— 6 million 6 million

What Is Diabetes?What Is Diabetes? • AA progressive disease in which your body progressive disease in which your body

doesn’t make enough insulin / doesn’t doesn’t make enough insulin / doesn’t respond properly to itrespond properly to it

• DDefined as a fasting glucose of 126 efined as a fasting glucose of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or moremilligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more

Why Is Diabetes Bad?Why Is Diabetes Bad?• 66-75%66-75% of people with diabetes die of some of people with diabetes die of some

form of CVDform of CVD• Diabetes lowers “good” cholesterol, and Diabetes lowers “good” cholesterol, and

raises “bad” cholesterol and triglyceride raises “bad” cholesterol and triglyceride levelslevels

• Many people with diabetes also have high Many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure and are overweightblood pressure and are overweight

Go Red For Women Helps More Go Red For Women Helps More Women Know Their Risk Women Know Their Risk • Learn your risk factorsLearn your risk factors• Live a healthy lifestyle to reduce themLive a healthy lifestyle to reduce them• Know the warning signs of heart attack and Know the warning signs of heart attack and

strokestroke

Heart Attack Warning SignsHeart Attack Warning Signs• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or

painpain in the center of the chest that lasts more in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and returnsthan a few minutes, or goes away and returns

• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomachback, neck, jaw or stomach

• Shortness of breath with or before chest Shortness of breath with or before chest discomfortdiscomfort

• Cold sweat, nausea or lightheadednessCold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

Stroke Warning SignsStroke Warning Signs• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, Sudden numbness or weakness of the face,

arm or leg, especially on one side of the bodyarm or leg, especially on one side of the body• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or

understandingunderstanding• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyesSudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of

balance or coordinationbalance or coordination• Sudden severe headache with no known Sudden severe headache with no known

causecause

Go Go RedRed For Women!For Women!

Become a Health Champion!Become a Health Champion! • Sign up for Sign up for Go Red Go Red today by calling 1-888-today by calling 1-888-

MY-HEART or visiting americanheart.orgMY-HEART or visiting americanheart.org• Enroll in Enroll in Choose To MoveChoose To Move and and Simple Simple

SolutionsSolutions • Attend your local Attend your local Go Red Go Red luncheon to help luncheon to help

raise funds for heart disease researchraise funds for heart disease research• Contact your local AHA to learn how to get Contact your local AHA to learn how to get

involved in your communityinvolved in your community