Why You Need to Understand your Heart Health

Heart health refers to the overall well-being of the heart and cardiovascular system. It involves maintaining proper blood circulation, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels while reducing the risk of heart disease and related conditions. Key factors in promoting heart health include: nutrition, physical activity, body composition management, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, stress management, and sleep. Being aware of your unique risks for heart health and getting regular checkups, regular health screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels can help identify and manage risk factors early. Taking proactive steps in these areas can lead to a healthier heart and overall better health.

Women’s Heart Health: The Stats

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading health concern for women worldwide, and is the leading cause of death for women.

  • In the United States alone, approximately 44% of women over the age of 20 have some form of cardiovascular disease.

  • In midlife, the risks from cardiac disease significantly increases, especially after menopause due to declining estrogen levels.

  • Every minute in the U.S., one woman dies from heart disease, totaling nearly 400,000 deaths annually.

  • Nearly 90% of women have at least one risk factor for heart disease, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, or high cholesterol.

  • Under 50, heart disease risk is typically lower, but rates of heart disease are rising among younger women, particularly due to lifestyle factors like obesity and stress.

  • Peri and postmenopausal women experience an increase in heart disease incidence and severity, attributed to changes in hormones, blood pressure, insulin resistance and lipid profiles.

  • Black women have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (about 49%) compared to white, Hispanic, and Asian American women.

Despite the large impact that heart health has on women’s health and the prevalence of cardiac disease, only about 56% of women recognize that heart disease is their number one health threat.

  • Identification of risk factors, proper risk assessment and lifestyle support can help reduce your risk of cardiac disease.

  • Regular physical activity, a focus on nutrition, smoking cessation, and weight management can greatly reduce the risk of heart disease amongst women.

  • Early screening for blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels is essential.