The long term care industry depends on women, both as patients and as employees. Women represent 87% of the recipients in long term care and comprise approximately 97% of the caregivers in the long term care industry. These statistics are important when looking at heart disease, since this is the leading cause of death in American women. With February as American Heart Month and March as Women’s History Month, here are few facts to consider about heart disease in women:

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death of American women, accounting for 32 percent of all deaths per year. Nearly 366,000 women in America die every year of heart disease.


• 8 million American women are currently living with heart disease and of those, 6 million have a family history of heart disease.


• Fewer than half of all women are aware that heart disease is the number 1 killer of American women. Most women identify cancer as the leading cause of death.


• In the United States, all cardiovascular diseases combined claim the lives of more women's every year than the next 16 causes of death combined -- and almost twice as many as all forms of cancer.


• One in three women will die from heart disease, while one in 25 women die from breast cancer.


• Every year since 1984, more women than men have died of cardiovascular disease.


• There is no previous evidence of coronary heart disease in 63 percent of the women who suddenly die from the disease.


• Smoking is the most prevalent and preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease in women younger than 45.


• 40 percent to 50 percent of women older than 45 have high blood pressure and an elevated total cholesterol level -- both well-documented risk factors.


• Heart disease is often preventable.


• Women are almost twice as likely to die after bypass surgery than men.

When it comes to heart disease, education and prevention can save lives. Studies show that by eating well, exercising, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and visiting their doctor, women can reduce their risk for heart disease by as much as 85 percent. But surprisingly, only about three percent of American women actually do all of these things.

We have to alert women everywhere to the seriousness of heart disease, and especially to the dangers of having multiple risk factors. The most common risk factors include being overweight, having high blood cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Having multiple risk factors dramatically increases a woman's chance of developing heart disease. A recent study showed that women with two or more risk factors have a 50 percent risk for heart disease, compared to barely an eight percent risk for women who have no risk factors. So, remember to take care of yourselves and each other. We can all start today!

Submitted by Amy Clabaugh

North Iowa Pre-Admissions Coordinator, ABCM Corporation