VA is partnering with the American Heart Association to raise awareness about heart health for women Veterans by asking them to Know Your Numbers (Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Body Weight).
Heart disease and stroke cause one in three deaths in all women every year in the United States. They kill one woman every 80 seconds. An estimated 44 million women in the United States are affected by heart disease.
Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease or stroke. Women have a higher lifetime risk of stroke than men.
Prevent Heart Disease: Know the Risk Factors
The secret to preventing heart disease is recognizing and managing risk factors with your provider. To help prevent heart disease, women must take control of their health and know your numbers.
Schedule a visit with your primary care provider. Talk to your doctor about your weight; body mass index, waist circumference; blood pressure; cholesterol; fasting blood sugar; and family medical history Be more active. Making small lifestyle changes may reduce heart disease symptoms and give your heart time for what matters most. Brisk walking for three or more hours per week could reduce the risk of coronary events in women by 30 to 40 percent. Increasing walking time or combining walking with vigorous exercise appears to be associated with even greater risk reduction. Ten minutes of walking three times a day can also lower blood pressure. Eat better. Eat a nutritious diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Also, eat
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