What women should know about their leading killer

Millions of women around the country live with cardiovascular disease, and many don’t know it. The consequences of being uninformed can be fatal. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women, claiming more victims than breast cancer in any given year.


There are a number of factors that can put a woman at risk:


1) Hypertension
High blood pressure can exert stress on blood vessel walls and make them more likely to get clogged.

2) Cholesterol levels
High levels of “bad” cholesterol can lead to blockages that can cause a number of problems, include heart attacks and stroke.

3) Smoking
Women who smoke have a much higher risk of heart attacks than non- smokers.

4) Obesity
The chance for heart disease increases with a woman’s weight. Even losing a little bit of weight can help diminish the chances of problems.

5) Diabetes
High blood sugar can damage the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
Long term problems with Diabetes include:

---Heart Disease
---Stroke
---Loss of use of limbs
---Loss of eyesight

6) Family History
A woman with blood relatives who were diagnosed with heart disease is at a heightened risk of developing heart disease.

7) Lack of physical exercise
Inactivity can promote heart disease. Daily physical activity can go a long way to help a woman stay healthy.


There are a number of ways women can help prevent heart disease:


1) Exercise Daily
The best rule of thumb is to have at least 20-30 minutes of uninterrupted cardiovascular exercise every day. Walking, running, swimming, bicycling, or elliptical machines are all good forms of this exercise.

2) Do not use tobacco products
Extended smoking over the years is basically a death sentence. There is also some evidence that women that smoke are most susceptible to heart disease than men.

3) Eat Healthy
The best scenario is to:

---reduce consumption of sugar and sugar products
---reduce the usage of fats (such as butter), sauces and gravy
---reduce the portion size of what we eat.
---don’t eat out as much

4) Maintain a healthy weight
See #1 and #3 to maintain a healthy weight

5) See a doctor regularly
Most health plans include coverage for wellness visits such as physicals, breast exams, colonoscopies, etc. Check with your carrier to see what is available to you at little or no out of pocket.

A healthy lifestyle will help your heart, your overall health, your attitude, and make your clothes fit better! Look for more information about our “CRS Healthy Lifestyles” in our CRS website:

www.commercialriskservice.com

Bobby Bland PWCA, CIC
Vice President
Commercial Risk Service