This document discusses cardiovascular disease risks and prevention for women. It notes that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women, killing one woman every minute. However, heart disease is largely preventable through lifestyle choices like eating healthy, exercising, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and knowing family health history. It encourages women to speak with their doctors to understand their personal risk level and create a prevention plan through diet, exercise and medication if needed. The overall message is that heart disease risks can be reduced and lives saved through education and making empowered health choices.

1. Our Hearts. Our Choice.
Speak Up to Save Lives

8. ACTIVITY

9. Of the women who
die each year, one
in three die from
cardiovascular disease.
Change the statistic –
Make the right choices
for your heart.

10. Our Hearts. Our Choice.
Choose to Live!

12. Choose to Beat Heart Disease
How to Choose Heart Health
• Eat healthy
• Exercise for 30 minutes most days of the week
• Quit smoking
• Lose excess weight
• Know your family history of heart disease
• Take the Go Red Heart CheckUp
• Schedule an appointment with your doctor
to understand your risk.

13. Choose to Know the Facts
• Cardiovascular disease causes almost 460,000 female
deaths a year – and approximately one death per minute
• 43 million American women are living with
cardiovascular disease.
• 64% of women who die suddenly from coronary heart
disease have no previous symptoms of the disease.
• Cardiovascular disease is largely preventable.

14. What have we Learned?
• Heart disease can strike
women at any age.
• Factors leading to heart
disease originate in young
women and develop over
time.
• Lifestyle changes and the
choices you make can
prevent or at least
postpone heart disease.

15. Signs of a Heart Attack
• Chest discomfort
• Discomfort in upper body
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat
• Nausea
• Lightheadedness

16. Am I at Risk?
Uncontrollable Risk Factors
• Increasing Age
• Heredity
• Race
Controllable Risk Factors
• Cholesterol
• Blood Pressure
• Physical (In)activity
• Obesity and Overweight
• Type II Diabetes
• Smoking

17. CVD in African American
and Hispanic Women
• Nearly half (46%) of all
non-Hispanic African-American
females have some form of heart
disease, stroke or other cardio-
vascular disease (CVD).
• Nearly one-third (37%)
of all deaths in Hispanic females
are caused by diseases of the
heart
and stroke.

18. Choose to Share Your Story
Gail shares her story
so that others can live.

19. Choose to eat
baked, not fried
• Choose lean meats
• Eat a healthy diet low in
saturated fat, transfat,
cholesterol and sodium
• Eat more fruits and
vegetables
• Find cooking tips and recipes
in the Go Red For Women
Recipe Collection cookbook
available at ShopGoRed.org

20. Choose to know your risk
Online tool to educate
women about their heart
health and encourage
patient-physician dialogue

21. Choose to Be a BetterU
FREE 12-week online program that can help you transform your
health with small, simple choices.
• Tools, tips and information that can add up to a complete heart
makeover.
• 12 weeks of step-by-step guidance on becoming healthy.
• Guidance to stay on track with the BetterMe Coaching Tool.
• Long- and short-term goal setting to help provide motivation.
• Journaling capabilities for tracking achievements.

22. Choose to Inspire & Connect
• Sign up and find useful tools at
GoRedForWomen.org
• Become a part of the
Go Red Community
• Share your story of the choices
you have made to improve your
well-being at
GoRedForWomen.org.
• Unite with over
one million women
• Invite friends to participate in a
Go Red Discussion Group

23. Choose to Take Action
• Host your own National
Wear Red Day – or wear red
to show your support
• Visit GoRedForWomen.org
to find a local Go Red
event near you
• Attend a Go Red For Women
Luncheon
• Support the cause through
ShopGoRed.com

24. Choose to Speak Up…
SPEAK UP for yourself
• Tell your family you’ll change your
habits and need their support.
• Ask for heart healthy options for any
meal you eat.
• Ask your doctor for a lipo-protein
blood screen and take the GRFW
Heart CheckUp
• Talk with your doctor or nurse
to design a personal action
plan that works for you and
your lifestyle.
• Enroll in the Go Red BetterU, a free
12 week, heart-health makeover.
SPEAK UP for others
• Tell everyone you know that the #1
killer of women is heart disease.
• Share your voice to empower
others by example. Speak Up
at GoRedForWomen.org.
• Support the Go Red movement by
signing up at GoRedForWomen.org
• Make a donation to GRFW.
• Support the Heart for Women Act that
helps women who do not have
insurance.
…and help save lives.

25. Choose to Empower Yourself
• Visit GoRedForWomen.org
• Search for heart-healthy
recipes
• Learn your risk for heart
disease
• Take the Go Red Heart
CheckUp
• Sign up for information
• Register for the Go Red
BetterU
• Take Action!

26. QUESTIONS?
Call SOMC Heart & Vascular Services
740-356-8305