GO RED FOR WOMEN
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the No. 1 killer of women. It claims more women’s lives than all forms of cancer combined. Losing one woman to cardiovascular disease is one too many.
Women experience unique stages through their lives which affect both overall health and cardiovascular health. Unique risk factors specific to women are:
• Pregnancy – Pregnancy can lead to cardiovascular conditions (including peripartum cardiomyopathy, stroke, heart attack) as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes (gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes) that can increase a woman’s risk for CVD later in life. Therefore, it’s vital that women are healthy before, during and after their pregnancy, both for themselves and their baby.
• Menopause – While menopause does not cause cardiovascular disease, a woman’s CVD risk is higher following menopause, making it vital for women to take charge of their health in the years leading up to and during menopause.
Women, especially Black and Hispanic women, are disproportionally impacted by heart disease and stroke and research shows heart attacks are on the rise in younger women. Yet younger generations of women, Gen Z and Millennials, are less likely to be aware of their greatest health threat, including knowing the warning signs of heart attacks and strokes. That’s why it’s important for all women to take charge of their heart health and encourage others to do the same. Losing even one woman to cardiovascular disease is too many.
Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative and is a comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally.
Call to Action
We want to inspire women with this call to action (CTA):
One is too many: Losing one woman to heart disease or stroke is too many.
• Awareness is critical. All women need to know that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women.
• “Know Your Numbers” – the key personal health numbers that help determine risk for heart disease: total cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index.
• Know your family history and talk to your doctor about heart disease and stroke.
• Take charge of your health to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease with tools and resources from Go Red for Women on physical activity, healthy eating, controlling blood pressure and managing sleep and stress.
Key Facts and Statistics Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the No. 1 killer of women. It claims more women’s lives than all forms of cancer combined.1 It affects women in some of the following ways: 1. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S., or more simply put, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms.2
2. Nearly 60% of stroke deaths are in women3
a. Each year, ≈55000 more females than males have a stroke4
3. The majority of deaths from high blood pressure are in women (nearly 52%)5
a. The elimination of hypertension could reduce CVD mortality by 38% among females6
4. Women in their 30s and 40s are more than twice as likely to die from cardiovascular diseases than breast cancer7
1 https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/women.htm
2 Petersen EE, Davis NL, Goodman D, et al. Vital Signs: Pregnancy-Related Deaths, United States, 2011–2015, and Strategies for Prevention, 13 States, 2013–2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019;68:423–429. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6818e1
3 https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000950 – Page 258, Sub heading ‘Stroke Mortality’
4 https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000950, page 247, subheading ‘sex’
5 https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000950 – page 137 Table 8-1
6 https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000950 – page 134, sub heading ‘Mortality’ from page 133
7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2017 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released December, 2018. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2017, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
The Four Pillars of Go Red for Women Through four key areas, the American Heart Association and Go Red for Women are addressing the barriers women face to good health and well-being:
Ensure All Women are Aware Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the No. 1 killer of women. It claims more women’s lives than all forms of cancer combined.8
Women of color bear the burden of cardiovascular disease
1. Black females had a hospitalization rate of 240% more for heart failure, and Hispanic women had a hospitalization rate of 55% more for the same compared to white women.9 2. Stroke is the third leading cause of death among Black women, and they are more likely to die from a stroke than non-Hispanic white women or Hispanics in the United States.10
3. Black women face greater risk of developing high blood pressure, having a stroke and complications during or immediately after pregnancy.11
4. Black and Hispanic women were the least likely to meet guidelines for aerobic physical exercise12
5. Low income American Indian, Alaskan Native and Black women are more likely to smoke than Hispanic and White women13
Help Women Take Charge of Their Health
The majority of cardiac and stroke events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes such as moving more, eating smart and managing blood pressure.
1. Being physically active is an important aspect of overall health. Meeting recommendations for physical activity not only reduces premature mortality but also improves risk factors for cardiovascular disease.14
a. Only 20% of women met the 2018 Federal Physical Activity Guidelines for both aerobic and strengthening.15
2. The American Heart Association and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adult
Credit to : American heart Association