What’s Cardiovascular Disease? CVD is heart and blood vessel diseases — diseases that affect the circulatory system.

Examples Coronary heart disease (heart attack)Coronary heart disease (heart attack) Cerebrovascular disease (stroke and TIA)Cerebrovascular disease (stroke and TIA) High blood pressureHigh blood pressure Congestive heart failureCongestive heart failure Congenital cardiovascular defectsCongenital cardiovascular defects Peripheral vascular diseasePeripheral vascular disease

CVD Claims 500,000 Women’s Lives Every Year CVD — kills more women than the next 7 causes of death combinedCVD — kills more women than the next 7 causes of death combined Breast cancer — kills 1 in 30 womenBreast cancer — kills 1 in 30 women CVD — kills 1 of every 2.5 womenCVD — kills 1 of every 2.5 women

Women, Heart Disease and Stroke Heart disease is women’s No. 1 killerHeart disease is women’s No. 1 killer Stroke is women’s No. 3 killerStroke is women’s No. 3 killer

What Women Don’t Know Coronary heart disease rates in women rise 2-3 times after menopauseCoronary heart disease rates in women rise 2-3 times after menopause Blacks are at higher risk than whitesBlacks are at higher risk than whites 1 of 3 Hispanic females dies of diseases of the heart and stroke1 of 3 Hispanic females dies of diseases of the heart and stroke

Survey History In 1997, AHA launched a major public awareness campaign on women and heart diseaseIn 1997, AHA launched a major public awareness campaign on women and heart disease In 2000 and 2003, follow-up surveys were doneIn 2000 and 2003, follow-up surveys were done

2003 Survey Findings Cancer still perceived as women’s leading health problemCancer still perceived as women’s leading health problem Women under age 45 and certain racial/ethnic groups had lower awareness that heart disease is women’s No. 1 killerWomen under age 45 and certain racial/ethnic groups had lower awareness that heart disease is women’s No. 1 killer Women know of CVD risk factors in general but often not their own risksWomen know of CVD risk factors in general but often not their own risks

Go Red For Women This campaign helps women discover unique lifesaving power by learning about heart disease and stroke and taking positive action to reduce their risk

Go Red For Women Sponsored nationally by With educational grants from

Campaign Goals To raise awareness To raise awareness To prevent heart disease and stroke To prevent heart disease and stroke To save lives To save lives

Enroll and Benefit MY-HEART ( ) MY-HEART ( ) americanheart.org americanheart.org Choose To Move and Simple Solutions Choose To Move and Simple Solutions Buy designated products from stores listed at the Go Red For Women Web site; part of the revenue supports our association Buy designated products from stores listed at the Go Red For Women Web site; part of the revenue supports our association

Impact of the February 2004 Campaign Launch Media Impressions — more than 800 millionMedia Impressions — more than 800 million Contact Center — 32,397 calls in a weekContact Center — 32,397 calls in a week Web Site — visitors doubledWeb Site — visitors doubled

Why We Need Go Red For Women High Blood Pressure (HBP)… The Silent Killer Women age 20 and older who have HBP: White females — 30% White females — 30% Black/African-American females — 45% Black/African-American females — 45% Mexican-American females — 30% Mexican-American females — 30%

HBP — Learn Your Numbers Systolic pressure (the higher number) — pressure in arteries when the heart beats Systolic pressure (the higher number) — pressure in arteries when the heart beats Diastolic pressure — pressure when the heart rests between beats Diastolic pressure — pressure when the heart rests between beats HBP HBP – Systolic pressure of 140 mm Hg or more – Or diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or more (or both) on two or more occasions

Why We Need Go Red For Women Unhealthy Cholesterol Levels Women age 20 and older with blood cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dL or higher: White females — 54% White females — 54% Black females — 46% Black females — 46% Mexican-American females — 45% Mexican-American females — 45%

Do You Know Your Total Cholesterol Numbers? Less than 200 mg/dL — Desirable (lower risk) 200–239 mg/dL — Borderline high (higher risk) 240 mg/dL and above — High blood cholesterol, more than twice the risk of desirable level Note: Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood.

Why We Need Go Red For Women Smoking Smoking is the single most Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death in the US preventable cause of death in the US 21 percent of American women age percent of American women age 18 and older smoke — 22.6 million women and older smoke — 22.6 million women

Smoking If you don’t smoke, don’t start If you don’t smoke, don’t start If you smoke, quit If you smoke, quit Avoid others’ tobacco smoke Avoid others’ tobacco smoke

Why We Need Go Red For Women Physical Inactivity Inactive women: White females — 36% White females — 36% Black females — 55% Black females — 55% Hispanic females — 57% Hispanic females — 57% Asian/Pacific Islander females — 46% Asian/Pacific Islander females — 46%

Physical Inactivity Increases heart disease and stroke risk Increases heart disease and stroke risk 30 minutes or more of activity on most or all days of the week helps reduce risk by controlling blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity and helping to lower HBP 30 minutes or more of activity on most or all days of the week helps reduce risk by controlling blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity and helping to lower HBP

Why We Need Go Red For Women Obesity / Overweight Overweight/obese women age 20 and older: Overweight/obese women age 20 and older: White females — 57% White females — 57% Black females — 77% Black females — 77% Mexican-American females — 72% Mexican-American females — 72%

Why We Need Go Red For Women Diabetes American females with physician-diagnosed diabetes — 5.5% American females with physician-diagnosed diabetes — 5.5% American females with undiagnosed diabetes — 2.5% American females with undiagnosed diabetes — 2.5% Total American women age 20 and older Total American women age 20 and older with diabetes — 6 million with diabetes — 6 million

What Is Diabetes? A progressive disease in which your body doesn’t make enough insulin / doesn’t respond properly to it A progressive disease in which your body doesn’t make enough insulin / doesn’t respond properly to it Defined as a fasting glucose of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more Defined as a fasting glucose of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more

Why Is Diabetes Bad? 66-75% of people with diabetes die of some form of CVD66-75% of people with diabetes die of some form of CVD Diabetes lowers “good” cholesterol, and raises “bad” cholesterol and triglyceride levelsDiabetes lowers “good” cholesterol, and raises “bad” cholesterol and triglyceride levels Many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure and are overweightMany people with diabetes also have high blood pressure and are overweight

Go Red For Women Helps More Women Know Their Risk Learn your risk factors Learn your risk factors Live a healthy lifestyle to reduce them Live a healthy lifestyle to reduce them Know the warning signs of heart attack and stroke Know the warning signs of heart attack and stroke

Heart Attack Warning Signs Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and returns Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and returns Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach Shortness of breath with or before chest discomfort Shortness of breath with or before chest discomfort Cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness Cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

Stroke Warning Signs Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination Sudden severe headache with no known cause Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Go Red For Women!

Become a Health Champion! Sign up for Go Red today by calling MY-HEART or visiting americanheart.org Sign up for Go Red today by calling MY-HEART or visiting americanheart.org Enroll in Choose To Move and Simple Solutions Enroll in Choose To Move and Simple Solutions Attend your local Go Red luncheon to help raise funds for heart disease research Attend your local Go Red luncheon to help raise funds for heart disease research Contact your local AHA to learn how to get involved in your community Contact your local AHA to learn how to get involved in your community