Protect your heart

By DIANE PENKERT

Heart Services director, Kootenai Health

It’s a fact; heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. That equates to approximately one death per minute from a disease that can often be prevented.

One of the main reasons women are more likely to die from heart disease than men is the difference in signs and symptoms. Early research of heart disease was not studied on women and until recently, even the medical community was not identifying a heart attack in women with the same consistency as men, resulting in poorer outcomes in women.

Education and recognition is getting better, but it is still important for women to know their risks, make lifestyle changes if needed, and use medical resources when appropriate. I know firsthand how early intervention can make all the difference. Throughout my 20s and 30s I was busy with school, work, marriage, and then children — a story I’m sure many women relate to. I stopped exercising and lost focus on healthy eating. In a period of about five years I gained 80 pounds and my doctor informed me I had high blood pressure as a result.

I needed to take control of my health to avoid becoming another statistic of heart disease. I started walking daily, added strength training a couple days a week, and gradually worked up to running. Eating a well-rounded diet and exercising resulted in my high blood pressure going away and allowed me to maintain a 70-pound weight loss for over seven years.

I encourage all women to take the following steps to control their health and prevent heart disease:

- Identify risk factors — Hereditary factors, poor diet, lack of exercise, prolonged or frequent stress, smoking, excessive drinking, obesity, and poor sleep (among others) can all lead to heart disease.

- Know your numbers — Visit your doctor yearly for a wellness exam. Know your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and BMI, and make a plan with your doctor if anything needs to change.

- Commit to better health — Move daily, eat well, and manage your blood pressure. Have an accountability partner for workouts or eating habits, take your blood pressure medication (if applicable) and stick to your goals.

Woman or man, these three steps will go a long way in preventing, or correcting heart disease. Join me in supporting the American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative, Go Red for Women, by wearing red on Friday, Feb. 1. Learn more about women’s heart health at goredforwomen.org.