February is American Heart Month. Wink is joining the cause this February by donating $1 for each bottle sold to the American Heart Association, to help end heart disease. It isn’t just a man’s disease; each year 1 in 3 women die of heart disease and stroke.
Knowing more about the lethal disease can help in prevention. Here are 5 facts about cardiovascular disease, courtesy of the American Heart Association:
FACT 1: Cardiovascular diseases cause one in three women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute.
- An estimated 43 million women in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular diseases.
- 90% of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease or stroke.
- 80% of heart disease and stroke events could be prevented.
FACT 2: Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease & stroke.
- Fewer women than men survive their first heart attack
- The symptoms of heart attack can be different in women vs. men, and are often misunderstood – even by some physicians.
- Women have a higher lifetime risk of stroke than men.
- Each year, about 55,000 more women than men have a stroke.
FACT 3: Heart disease and stroke affect women of all ethnicities.
- Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death for African-American women, killing nearly 50,000 annually.
- Only 43% of African American women and 44% of Hispanic women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk, compared with 60% of Caucasian women.
- Of African-American women ages 20 and older, 48.9% have cardiovascular disease. Yet, only 20% believe they are at risk.
- Only 50% of African-American women are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
- Hispanic women are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than Caucasian women.
- Only 3 in 10 Hispanic women say they have been informed that they are at a higher risk.
- Only 1 in 4 Hispanic women is aware of treatment options.
FACT 4: Women who are involved with the Go Red For Women movement live healthier lives.
- Nearly 90% have made at least one healthy behavior change.
- More than one-third has lost weight.
- More than 50% have increased their exercise.
- 6 out of 10 have changed their diets. More than 40% have checked their cholesterol levels.
- One third has talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans.
FACT 5: When you get involved in supporting Go Red For Women by advocating, fundraising and sharing your story, more lives are saved.
- Today, nearly 300 fewer women die from heart disease and stroke each day
- Death in women has decreased by more than 30 percent over the past 10 years.
Thanks to the American Heart Association for sharing these facts and for helping to improve the lives of women.
