Raising Awareness About the Leading Killer of Women – Tips to Reduce Risk from Intermountain Health

February is American Heart Month a time dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

This education includes helping the community better understand the following:

– Heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and smoking.
– Symptoms of heart attack and stroke (often different in men and women)
– The importance of healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and managing stress.
– Early detection and treatment options for heart disease.

“We want everyone to know that cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women,” said Nate Miller, MD, medical director at the Intermountain Health Saratoga Springs Emergency Department.

“Even though heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, many women misinterpret symptoms to less life-threatening conditions such as acid reflux, the flu, or normal aging. We want women to be aware that heart disease claims more women’s lives than all forms of cancer combined, and to not discount symptoms” said Dr. Miller.

The reality is that currently, nearly 45% of women over age 20 are living with some form of cardiovascular disease.

“Younger women are even less likely to be aware of their greatest health threat,” said Dr. Miller. “Knowing the warning signs of heart attacks and strokes is key to catching and treating conditions,” said Dr. Miller.

Recent surveys show only 44% of women are aware that cardiovascular disease is their leading cause of death.

As the leading cause of death for BOTH men and women in America, one person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease – and about 659,000 people die from heart disease each year – that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.

Intermountain Health, which cares for more heart attack patients than any other health system in the region, is teaming with the American Heart Association in Utah in February to educate women about their risks of heart disease.

A heart attack occurs when blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely. This happens because the arteries that supply the heart with blood can slowly narrow from a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances.

The good news for people is that there’s a lot of people to protect their heart, including quitting smoking and maintaining an active lifestyle. Heart health is important for everyone, regardless of demographics.

Specific risk factors include:

• Age – men older than 45 and women past menopause
  • Family history of heart problems
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Lifestyle factors such as excess weight, smoking, and inactivity.

It’s time to act. Why? Losing even one woman to cardiovascular disease is too many.

Intermountain Health wants women in Utah to know their heart health numbers and family history.

These numbers include:

> Blood pressure
> Body mass index
> Blood sugar levels
> Total cholesterol level
> HDL cholesterol level

“We also encourage all women to get their annual checkups and work with their primary care provider to address any risks for heart disease,” said Dr. Miller.

As part of American Heart Month in February, Intermountain Health is offering a Healthy Heart Quiz and other information and resources to help you assess your heart health. To take the quiz, go to: https://connect.intermountainhealth.org/heart.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a not-for-profit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.