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WAUKESHA, Wis. -- Just in time for Mother’s Day, a national survey commissioned by GE Healthcare reveals that nearly two out of three adults have never talked to their mothers about heart disease, the number one killer of women in the United States.
“Women and their families need a wake up call,” said Dr. James Rippe, cardiologist and spokesperson for GE Healthcare’s Heart Health Program, and author of the just released book, “Heart Disease for Dummies.”
“Instead of giving your mother chocolates or taking her out for an all-you-can eat-brunch, people might want to use Mother’s Day as an opportunity to give their mother the best gift of all – a heart-to-heart talk about heart disease prevention and early detection,” said Dr. Rippe, who also serves as an Associate Professor of Medicine (cardiology) at Tufts University and is founder and director of the Rippe Health Assessment at Celebration Health.
Rippe adds that an estimated one in three women will die of cardiovascular disease. In fact, heart disease impacts more women than the top three cancers combined; and will kill more women in the U.S. each year than all other diseases combined.
Yet, according to the recent GE study, more than 60 percent of Americans don’t perceive heart disease as a major threat to the women in their families. Other findings in this recently released survey include:
- 44 percent of women versus 30 percent of men have talked to their mothers about this condition.
- Americans with children, specifically teenagers, are more likely to have talked to their mothers about heart disease.
- People in the North Central states (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas) and in metro areas are less likely to have discussed heart disease with their mothers.
- 41 percent of Americans in the Southern states (Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi , Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas) – more than any other region in the country – perceive heart disease to be a major threat to the women in their family.
- Baby boomers, age 45 to 54, have talked to their mothers about heart disease more than any other age group, even their older counterparts. This was also the only age group where the majority of them (51 percent) had talked to their mothers.
Recent research published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that more than 80 percent of heart disease is preventable. “It’s a proven fact that heart disease prevention and early detection saves lives. Every woman in America should have a simple plan in place for herself and her family, “ said Dr. Rippe.
Dr. Rippe added that there are six simple steps women can take for a more proactive role in the prevention of heart disease, and that physicians have better diagnostic tools than ever before to help detect, diagnose and monitor the disease.
Step #1: Talk to Your Doc
Talk to your doctor. Knowledge is power! Your doctor has better diagnostics tools than ever before, like innovative technologies from GE Healthcare (Ultrasound, Computed Tomography CT, EKG and MRI) to see if you have, or are at increased risk, for heart disease.
Ask your doctor if there are things that you can do to lower your risk of heart disease, such as stopping smoking, keeping blood pressure under control and lowering your cholesterol. Then, work with your doctor to determine what simple test/s and plan is right for you.
Step #2: Take a Walk
Women who engage in daily walks can lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 50 percent.
Step #3: Eat a Heart Healthy Diet
Women who consume more fish, whole grains, fruits and vegetables substantially lower their risk of heart disease.
Step #4: Predict and Prevent
New technologies are now available for earlier prediction and more precise location of heart disease. Sadly, fewer women receive these advanced diagnostic tests than men. Ask your doctor if some of these tests might be right for you.
Step #5: Weigh in Against Heart Disease
Major risk factors for heart disease in women are obesity and adult weight gain. Keep careful track of your weight to keep it healthy and lower the risk of heart disease. If overweight, try to lose some weight through a healthy, low fat diet and regular exercise.
Step #6: Seize the Day
Start your plan to lower heart disease today! It is never too early, and never too late. Even children should have a good plan in place for daily habits to lower the risk of heart disease.
To help people share this important information, GE Healthcare is offering a free Mother’s Day card, which includes a mother’s day message and simple tips for the prevention of heart disease. The card and further information on heart disease can be found on the GE Healthcare web site at www.gehealthcare.com/heart.
This information is a part of a year-long program GE Healthcare is supporting in conjunction with Meredith Corporation, the publisher of leading women’s publications including Ladies’ Home Journal, Better Homes and Gardens and More Magazine. The program, entitled “Wear Red,” is designed to raise awareness that heart disease is the leading killer among women; promote heart health initiatives and raise funds for the American Heart Association.
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