New Heart Disease Guidelines for Women

Women have unique health challenges, and that includes their risk factors for heart disease. So the American Heart Association (AHA) says guidelines for the prevention and treatment of heart disease in women should be unique, as well.

Heart disease remains the number one killer of women, yet only about half of women know this, according to the AHA. Still, awareness is up substantially from 1997, when only 30 percent realized heart disease wasn't primarily a "man's disease."

Annabelle Volgman, M.D., at the Rush Heart Center for Women in Chicago, said there's still a long way to go to raise awareness.

"Fifty-four percent of women know about the risk, but that means 46 percent of women still don't know it's the number one," Dr. Volgman says. "And although there's been a decline in death rates from heart disease in women, we are seeing more young women 35 to 54 years old having strokes."

Atrial fibrillation

One significant risk factor for stroke is an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation. To prevent stroke, women with this condition should make sure they are taking the right medications to control it.

Women also have other unique risk factors that can increase their chances for stroke: pregnancy complications, using birth control pills, and taking hormone replacement therapy during menopause.

In addition, two in three women over age 20 are either overweight or obese. And after falling for four decades, death rates from heart disease appear to be rising among U.S. women ages 35 to 54.

Healthy goals

To reduce their risk for heart disease, women should keep their total cholesterol level at 200 mg/dL or less and blood pressure at 120/80 mm Hg. They should also have a fasting blood glucose under 100 mg/dL.

The guidelines also say that women should maintain a body mass index of less than 25, avoid smoking, cut down on salt, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and do at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.