Today, we’re learning more and more about the way our health needs change over time.

Heart Check up for Women

While some things never change, like the need for a healthy diet, regular exercise and a positive attitude, other aspects of your health are simply due to your stage of life.

Age, however, can be deceiving. In Inspiring Stories you’ll find the stories of several women who experienced heart-related incidents at age 35 and younger.

With that in mind, make it your goal to know your cholesterol and triglyceride numbers as well as you know your 401(K) balance and shoe size. Instead of counting wrinkles (not that you have any!) keep an eye on your calorie count – and eat from each of the six food groups as recommended by the USDA and the American Heart Association.

Above all, remember: Your body and current state of health are as unique as you are. That’s why it’s so important for women to find realistic heart health goals with the help of their doctors, and to be aware of the lifestyle choices that can decrease the risk of heart disease.

An ounce of prevention? Make that a gallon!

The more thoughtfully you protect your heart, starting as early as your 20s, the less likely you’ll face the life-threatening challenges posed by cardiovascular disease. No matter what your age or where you feel you are in your life, the best time to take action and get healthy is always right now.

From jogging with your friends, to swapping healthy recipes, to keeping up with loved ones and learning your family history, your heart health depends on a life-long commitment. As always, the first way for you, as a woman, to Go Red is to take good care of yourself every day. Because when you do, your life can be as beautiful as you are yourself!

We hope the information you’ll find here will help you take charge of your health, so you can continue to renew your passionate commitment to fight back against heart disease in all forms.

SOURCE: .goredforwomen.org

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Traditionally, cardiovascular disease has been thought of as a “male” disease, but cardiovascular disease is in fact the leading cause of death for women as well as for men in the United States. In 2003, all forms of cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of about 500,000 American women, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Statistically, 2 out of every 5 female deaths in the United States is caused by cardiovascular disease, especially coronary heart disease and stroke.

Alarmingly, studies continually reveal that women lack understanding of the risks they face from heart disease and stroke. While the media tends to emphasize breast cancer, cardiovascular disease claims more than 10 times as many lives as breast cancer annually and more than 8 times as many lives as lung cancer. It is responsible for more deaths annually among women than all other causes combined. Minority women face an even greater risk. Cardiovascular disease claims a significantly higher number of black and Mexican American women than white women, possibly because of higher rates of obesity and lack of exercise in these populations. While there has been positive news in recent years — overall rates of heart disease have declined in women, possibly due to risk factor reduction — there is still significant room for improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in women.

Studies are ongoing to understand the gap between the dangers of cardiovascular disease in women and its treatment. In recent years, researchers have begun to understand that women experience cardiovascular disease differently than men, especially coronary heart disease. It may have different symptoms, and onset tends to occur later in life. Because of these differences, women may be less likely to be referred for testing for heart disease. As a result, women have to be more assertive in seeking out appropriate care. Also, women have different target goals when it comes to controlling risk factors such as cholesterol levels and triglycerides. It is important that all women understand the dangers posed by cardiovascular disease and take appropriate steps to prevent it.

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Source: yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com