(ARA) – Cardiovascular disease is the single greatest health threat for women today, more than all cancers combined. Recent studies have shown that the general public is more aware of this threat than physicians, which is cause for concern when so many entrust their health to their doctors.
A national study from the Association of Women’s Heart Programs (AWHP) and the California Pistachio Commission (CPC) showed 59 percent of women and 44 percent of men were aware that heart disease was the leading cause of death among women. However, a recent American Heart Association survey showed that an overwhelming number of doctors did not necessarily know the basic, important facts about women and heart disease. According to the most recent data from a 2005 study, only eight percent of primary care physicians and 17 percent of cardiologists knew that heart disease killed more women than men.
“No matter what your age might be, it’s never too early to start taking better care of yourself and living a heart-healthy lifestyle,” states Dr. Susan Bennett, cardiologist and president of the AWHP.
“These tips will help improve heart and cardiovascular system health and help build stronger partnerships between patients and their doctors.”
* No matter how young or old you are, talk with your doctor now about heart health. Discuss the differences between men and women, including primary symptoms that signal disease. Ask about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Set goals for your blood pressure and cholesterol.
* Get moving -- exercise and give your heart a workout. The heart is a muscle too, and strong hearts pump blood and nutrients more easily through the body.
* Give your body balanced nutrition. Keep heart-healthy snacks including fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts -- like pistachios -- on hand whenever you’re on the go to keep you on track for healthy eating habits. Remember, a one-ounce serving of pistachios is 49 nuts, more than any other snack nut.
* Keep your weight under control. The key to including nuts in the diet without adding extra calories is portion control. Losing excess weight will help lower blood levels of harmful LDL cholesterol and prevent other risk factors. Limit saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugars.
* Research published in 2006 suggested when healthy men and women ate pistachios for 20 percent of their daily calories their risk for heart disease was decreased. Their total cholesterol level dropped and their HDL (good) cholesterol level significantly improved.
* Stop smoking. All research arrives at the same conclusion -- smoking is not good for your health or your heart. Women who smoke have up to six times greater risk of a heart attack or stroke.
* Don’t put off regular checkups. See your doctor regularly and don’t hesitate to speak up if you’re not feeling “right.” Your doctor is there to listen and keep you healthy, so ask questions and be honest. “With more than 350,000 women dying each year from heart disease, it is vital that public education -- and perhaps even more important, more rigorous education of medical care providers -- about this issue continues,” stated Karen Reinecke, CPC president.
“A healthy heart starts with the individual and continues with a positive patient-doctor relationship.”
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