Working to Prevent One Million Heart Attacks

Today is National Wear Red Day, so wear red in support of women's heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in America. Which is why organizations like WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease are so important.

WomenHeart has partnered with the Million Hearts Initiative, the first national public health initiative aimed at preventing one million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years.

Led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevents and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Serivces, Million Hearts aims to improve prevention of heart disease and stroke by focusing on the "ABCS": Aspirin therapy, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol control and Smoking cessation.

"If we successfully focus on and improve the statistics in these four areas, women will benefit, because women have particular needs in these areas," affirms Lisa Tate, CEO of WomenHeart (left). "That's why we're behind the Million Hearts Initiative."

Right now, there's more women can do. The statistics are a bit shocking. According to a report by the CDC, less than half of people at risk of cardiovascular disease are taking aspirin, less than half of people with hypertention have adequately controlled blood pressure, less than half of people with high cholesterol have adequately controlled hyperlipidemia (fats in the blood), and only 23 percent of people who want to quit smoking get some kind of help.

"The goal of this campaign is to actually change those numbers," Lisa asserts.

So WomenHeart will be spreading the word through its website, network of over 35,000 members, and volunteers. "One of the unique things WomenHeart does is train patients, volunteers we call WomenHeart Champions, to go out and speak to other women," says Lisa. These Champions will deliver the Million Hearts message.

"Women should urge their friends and family members to make an appointment with a doctor, find out if they're at risk," Lisa urges. "There are so many things you can do to prevent heart disease if you know you're at risk… Make sure you're getting the right blood work done. Too often people wait to get those things checked out until they're middle aged or older and they may have been at risk for a long time."

By Sarah Tobol, Editor

Check out our Lifesyle feature this month: Be Smart About Heart Health!