‘Go Red For Women’ raises awareness about a heart disease epidemic among women

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women, a statistic experts attribute, in part, to a tendency for women to prioritize the well-being of others over their own health. This pattern of self-neglect can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, ultimately impacting outcomes.

The Importance of Self-Care

The principle of prioritizing one’s own health is often illustrated with the analogy of airplane safety instructions: secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others. This holds true for heart health as well. If a woman’s heart isn’t healthy, her ability to care for others will eventually be compromised. The Go Red For Women initiative exists to encourage women to make their heart health a primary focus.

“To first focus on themselves and take care of themselves so they can be healthy and productive members of society,” stated Dr. Monica Kapur, President and CEO of University Medicine Associates. “Women are notorious for taking care of everyone else around them except themselves.”

Understanding Risk Factors

Several risk factors for heart disease are modifiable, meaning individuals can take steps to reduce their impact. These include diet, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, physical inactivity, poor diet, and obesity. Being overweight is specifically identified as a significant risk factor, with increased weight correlating to a higher chance of developing heart disease.

Dr. Kapur emphasized the importance of regular medical checkups, even for children, noting that obesity is an epidemic. The experience of menopause can increase a woman’s risk, often leading to weight gain due to dropping estrogen levels.

“And so, they focus on those symptoms rather than actually, truly looking at what is causing what’s happening around them. What ends up happening is they also tend to gain weight much easier,” Dr. Kapur said.

Evolving Understanding of Women’s Heart Health

Advances in medicine and technology continue to refine our understanding of women’s health. In 1999, the first clinical recommendations specifically for the prevention of heart disease in women were released. Further progress came in 2001 with an Institute of Medicine report that highlighted the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials, advocating for a more comprehensive understanding of how the disease affects women.

Dr. Kapur suggests that developing healthy eating habits early in life can have a lasting positive impact.

University Health is sponsoring this year’s Go Red For Women Summit in San Antonio on Wednesday, February 11, to raise awareness about heart disease in women.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a major reason women may delay seeking help for heart disease?

Experts say women often tend to ignore the signs and symptoms of heart disease, and one of the big reasons is that they focus on the health of others more than themselves.

What are some modifiable risk factors for heart disease?

Some of the risk factors you can change include diet, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, physical inactivity, poor diet, and obesity.

How does menopause impact a woman’s risk for heart disease?

Going through menopause increases a woman’s risk for heart disease, as it often results in weight gain with estrogen dropping.

Considering the challenges women face in prioritizing their own health, what steps can communities take to better support women’s heart health?