When
it comes to their hearts,
women are wising up. The number
of women who know that heart
disease is their No. 1 killer has nearly
doubled in roughly the past 15 years,
the American Heart Association
reports. Still, there’s a worrisome
knowledge gap.
Youngerwomen are less aware of the
toll of heart disease thanolder ones.
That’s a concern since heart disease
can start early, even in adolescence.
The bottom line: Every woman
needs to take steps to protect
herself from heart disease. Among
the most important safeguards:
Partner with your doctor.
Ask
your doctor what your speci c risk
for heart disease is—and what you
can do to control it.
Take risk factors seriously.
It only
takes one heart disease risk factor
to double your risk of heart problems.
Risks that you can control include
having high blood pressure, high
cholesterol or diabetes; smoking;
or being overweight or inactive.
Don’t light up.
This is especially
important if you use birth control
pills.
Move somemore.
Aim for
150 minutes of moderate-intensity
aerobic activity every week, as well
as muscle-strengthening on two or
more days each week. If you have a
chronic condition, get your doc-
tor’s OK before ramping up your
activity level.
Eat a heart-smart diet.
Go easy
on foods that are high in saturated
fats, trans fats and cholesterol.
Drop a few pounds.
If you’re
overweight, losing as little as
5 to 10 percent of your body
weight can help you head o
heart disease.
Mercy
Heart Center:
A leader in
healing hearts
Healthgrades Five-Star
Recipient for Treatment of
Heart Attack in 2014
Comprehensive
cardiovascular care
Diagnostic and therapeutic
treatments
Designated STEMI-receiving
center for heart attack treatment
Nationally renowned leader
in “beating heart” surgery
Hospital-based
cardiologists, available 24/7
Cardiac rehabilitation
Community education
and seminars
At the core of our Healthgrades
recognition—and all that we do—is
to provide care you can trust. Visit
redding.mercy.org/heart
or to learn
more, call
888.628.1948
.
Take steps
toprevent
heart disease
11
Dignity Health
