Increasing Awareness about Women and Cardiovascular Disease


This is my first entry on this new blog and each entry will hopefully provide readers with pertinent and recent information on various health topics and pharmacy issues. As a pharmacist, I have encountered many patients who know that they are on medications for certain medical conditions, but often are not aware of the medication names or indications for use. As a health care professional, I think that it's important for health care providers to ensure that their patients are knowledgeable about their medical conditions as well as the treatments for these conditions. Several clinical studies have demonstrated that patients involved in their care are more likely to have better outcomes. Since February is Women’s Heart Health month, it is important to increase awareness about the growing incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women and continue to pursue various avenues to decrease or prevent CVD.
We are daughters, wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, granddaughters, aunts, girlfriends, fiancés, nieces, cousins and friends. As women, we have many vital roles in our families and in society and therefore our health must be a top priority to maintain those roles and preserve a good quality of life. One of the key things that women can do is to take a proactive role in their overall health. CVD remains the primary cause of death among both men and women and greater awareness regarding prevention is warranted. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 80 % of cardiac events can be prevented.1 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that an estimated 1 in every 5 deaths among women is due to CVD. 2

There are several risk factors for CVD. Risk factors can be classified as modifiable or non-modifiable. According to the American Heart Association. 

 Modifiable risk factors can include:
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Smoking
  • A diet high in fat and/or sugar
  • Having a sedentary lifestyle
  • Hypertension
  • High LDL (the "bad") cholesterol
  • Elevated blood glucose
 Non modifiable risk factors may include
  • Having a family history of early CVD
  • Having a history of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy
  • Age (55 or older for women)
It is important to know your risk factors, maintain routine healthcare, and discuss these risk factors with your primary healthcare provider. You should also be knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms of CVD, although they may differ from patient to patient. As we come to a close of February 2020, let us try to make every day a time to expand awareness about CVD in women to prevent or reduce the leading cause of death. We only get one chance at life and it is vital to live the longest and fullest life possible. So today and every day take care of your heart. Armed with knowledge, you can take an active role in your own health and working in conjunction with your primary healthcare provider, you can make informed decisions about your health to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Here is a link to a recent publication from the American Heart Association regarding CVD and Women:
Below are some excellent patient educational resources to learn more about CVD and Women

 References
  1.    Go Red for Women. American Heart Association website https://www.goredforwomen.org/.  Accessed February 20 2020.
  2.   Women and Heart Disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/women.htm . Published January 31, 2020. Accessed February 20, 2020.