It's Heart Month

In my first blog, Did You Know, I mentioned that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women and that more women die from cardiovascular disease than the next five leading causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. Approximately one woman dies each minute due to cardiovascular disease. And yet, only one in five women understands that cardiovascular disease is her greatest health threat. Many women think that heart disease is an exclusive men's club.

It is heart month. Let's not leave the men out. Heart disease touches most people. I attended a Go Red for Women luncheon at the Ritz Carlton in Clayton just a few weeks ago. It was an amazing sold out event at which 800 were in attendance! The speaker asked everyone to stand if their life was touched by heart disease. I was shocked to see a few seated. Maybe they weren't listening?

Heart disease takes far too many in our country. Cardiovascular disease deprives us of someone we love, whether it's a wife, husband, mother, father, sister, brother,cousin, neighbor or a friend. It is rare to find someone not touched by heart disease. Last week, I was at another heart event listening to the stories of other survivors and I realized that I was one of many. So many stories. Cardiovascular disease is the leading causes of death in the United States. One in three deaths regardless of male or female which equals 2,200 deaths per day!
We can change this. Blog number two talks about understanding your heart risks and blog number three talks about taking charge. Do you need to lose weight? Do you need to be on cholesterol medication? Do you smoke? Do you exercise? Do you have high blood pressure? Diabetes? Take your first step today and make that call for a complete physical with your internist.

If you do not have an internist:

• Contact your insurance company for a list of physicians in your network.
• Call friends and relatives for recommendations.
• Ask other doctors you may get care from for recommendations.

If you chose a doctor from an insurance list you may want to consider things such as gender, location, hospital affiliations, board certificiations, medical school attended and residency trainings. Check for disciplinary charges. Once you pick a doctor it is important to see if appointments are easily acquired. Lastly, it is important to feel comfortable with your doctor. Communication is critical. If your doctor does not address your concerns then maybe it's time to look for another doctor.

Ellen S. Abramson

Author of Live to Dance