Print this list off for February and learn about heart disease all month!

 
REASONS TO BELIEVE

1.    Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women age 20 and over, but it is largely preventable.

2.    At least 65 percent of people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease.

3.    1 in 3 women has some form of cardiovascular disease which kills one woman every minute.

4.    325,000 coronary heart disease deaths occur out-of-hospital or in hospital emergency departments annually.

5.    More women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.

6.    FEBRUARY 6th: Today is National Wear Red Day! Join dozens of women, as well as companies and organizations in Wausau and cities across America by wearing red today. It's a simple, powerful way to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke.

7.    Overweight children are more likely to have abnormally thick heart muscle tissue when they become an adult, which increases the risk of heart attack and heart failure.

8.    Visit GoRedForWomen.org and choose to take the Go Red Heart CheckUp to find out your 10-year risk of heart disease or stroke.

9.    If you or someone you know shows signs of heart attack or stroke, call 9-1-1 right away. An Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team can begin treatment when it arrives. That means treatment can begin sooner than it would if the patient arrived at the hospital by car.  What's more, the EMS team is also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped, which saves hundreds of lives each year.

10.    Children of mothers who smoke during pregnancy have more damage to their arteries in young adulthood than offspring of non-smokers and the association is even stronger if both parents smoke.

11.    Choose to speak up, not remain silent. Support legislation that would improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and stroke in women at HeartForWomen.org.

12.    Too many lives have and will be cut short from heart disease and its risk factors; however, early detection, lifestyle changes, and other intervention can improve certain conditions.

13.    Choose to beat heart disease this year. Whether it’s eating healthier, exercising more, reducing our cholesterol, or quitting smoking, and turn your personal choices into life-saving actions.

14.    Plan meals in advance – visit americanheart.org for recipes from a number of heart-healthy cookbooks and use the online grocery list builder to quickly identify heart-healthy products to add to your grocery list.

15.    Schedule a doctor’s appointment each year and get a complete blood screen. Only 1 in 5 women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat.

16.    This year about 1.2 million Americans will have a first or repeat coronary attack. About 452,000 of them will die. Coronary heart disease is our nation’s leading cause of death.

17.    About 7.9 million Americans age 20 and older have survived a heart attack (myocardial infarction). About 8.9 million have angina pectoris (chest pain or discomfort due to reduced blood supply to the heart).

18.    An estimated 25.1 million men and 20.9 million women increase their risk of heart attack and stroke by smoking cigarettes.

19.    One of the best ways to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease is to start getting regular, moderate exercise, at least 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.

20.    Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, causing someone to gasp dramatically, clutch her heart and drop to the ground. No one has any doubts about what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often the people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help.

21.    Nationally, about 21 cents of every dollar contributed to the American Heart Association is used to fund cardiovascular disease and stroke research. 

22.    Start thinking about your heart. By adding one hour of regular, vigorous physical activity, adults may gain up to two hours of life expectancy.  Start by including more physical activity into your daily routine. Take a walk, ride a bike or take the stairs.

23.    About 36.6 million American adults have cholesterol levels of 240 or higher — the point at which it becomes a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. Your total cholesterol should be below 200, and your HDL (good) cholesterol should be 40 or higher.

24.    The American Heart Association is second only to the federal government as a source of funding for cardiovascular and stroke research.

25.    During a heart check up, your doctor takes a careful look at your "numbers," including your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, your blood pressure and more. Knowing your numbers is an important part of keeping your heart-healthy. It can help you and your doctor know your risks and mark the progress you're making toward a healthier you.

26.    Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. If you smoke cigarettes (or cigars), you have a higher risk of illness and death from heart attack, stroke and other diseases. So if you don't smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, love your heart and quit today. Need more motivation? Visit heart.org for help quitting smoking.

27.    Uncovering family history can help you to better understand your risk for heart disease. If you have a blood relative with heart disease or a risk factor for genetic heart disease, your risk for developing it significantly increases.

28.    Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2006–07 the association invested more than $554 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.

Source: americanheart.org