SPEAKER'S GUIDE PRESENTATION
Slide 1Welcome
Slide 2A National Campaign
- To help women understand their risk of heart disease and take action
- Especially women ages 40 to 60
- Partnership of many groups
- Red Dress—the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness
Slide 3Today's Session Will Cover
- Why women need to know about heart disease
- What heart disease is
- Risk factors
- Talking to your doctor
- Taking action
- Surviving a heart attack
- Resources
- Getting on the road to heart health
Slide 4The Heart Truth
- Heart disease is the #1 killer of American womenno matter what their race or ethnicity
- Heart disease kills 1 of every 3 American women
- Heart disease can permanently damage your heartand your life
Slide 5The Heart Truth
- Heart disease is a "now" problem
- "Later" may be too late
Slide 6What Is Heart Disease?
- Heart doesn't get enough nutrient-rich blood
- Chronicdevelops over years
- Atherosclerosisarteries harden as cholesterol, fat, and other substances build up in artery walls
- Blockage can result in heart attack
Slide 7No Quick Fix
- Not "fixed" by surgery or procedures, such as bypass and angioplasty
- Worsens if not treatedleads to disability or death
Slide 8Good News
- Heart disease can be prevented or controlled
- Treatment includes lifestyle changes and, if needed, medication
Slide 9Why Me? Why Now?
- Risk rises ages 40-60
- Estrogen level drops during menopause
- Risk factors
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Overweight/obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Diabetes
- Family history of early heart disease
- Age (55 and older for women)
Slide 10Heart Disease Risk Factors
- Multiply their effects
- Same lifestyle steps prevent/control many of the risk factors
Slide 11Have a Heart-to-Heart
- Ask your doctor about your risk of heart disease
- Draw up a list of questions before your visit
- Write down or tape record what the doctor says
- Tell your doctor your lifestyle behaviors, such as smoking or being physically inactive
Slide 12Key Tests for Heart Disease Risk
- Blood pressure
- Blood cholesterol
- Fasting plasma glucose (diabetes test)
- Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference
- Electrocardiogram
- Stress test
Slide 13Why Women Don't Take Action Against Heart Disease
- They don't put their health as a top priority
- They think they're not old enough to be at risk
- They feel too busy to make changes in their lives
- They're already feeling stressed
- They're tired
Slide 14How To Lower Heart Disease Risk
- Begin today
- Be physically active30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most days of the week
- Follow a healthy eating plan
- Low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol and moderate in total fat
- Limit salt and sodium
- If you drink alcoholic beverages, have no more than one a day
Slide 15How To Lower Heart Disease Risk
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Balance calories taken in with those used up in physical activity
- Stop smoking
- Manage diabetes
- Take medication, if prescribed
Slide 16Heart Attack Warning Signs
- Chest discomfort
- Usually in the center of the chest
- Lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
- Can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
Slide 17Heart Attack Warning Signs
- Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
- Other symptoms, such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness
Slide 18To Survive a Heart Attack
- Call 9-1-1 within minutes5 minutes at most
- Emergency medical personnel will begin treatment at once
- Don't drive yourself to the hospital
- Uncertainty is normaldon't be embarrassed by a false alarm
- Plan ahead
- Learn the warning signs
Slide 19Resources for a Healthy Heart
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- American Heart Association
Go Red for Women
- Office on Women's Health, DHHS
National Women's Health Information Center
- WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
Slide 20It All Begins With You
- Take one step at a time
- Replace unhealthy habits with healthier ones
- Eat for heart health
- Remember that calories count
- Start walkingtry 10 minutes and add time gradually to get 30 minutes a day
Slide 21How To Keep Going
- View changes as new lifestyle, not quick fixes
- Set realistic goals
- Buddy up
- Don't worry about a slip
- Reward your success
- Be your own advocateask questions and seek information
Slide 22The Heart Truth
- It's up to you to protect your heart healthstart today!
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