HEALTH & WELLNESS
GO RED FOR WOMEN
TAKE HEART Help is Not Far Away
About 82 million Americans have some form of heart disease . Around 2,200 die from heart attacks , heart disease or stroke on a daily basis , according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention .
Unfortunately , a heart attack can occur at any age , and you are never too young to start heart-healthy living . Some of us have risks that cannot be changed . Those include aging ; male sex ( men have a greater risk of heart attack than women and have them earlier in life ); and heredity , which includes race . If your parents had heart disease , you have a higher chance of developing it . African-Americans , Mexican-Americans , American Indians , native Hawaiians and some Asian-Americans have a higher heart disease risk than Caucasians . According to the American Heart Association , that makes it even more important to manage the risks that are in your power to change .
One of those is smoking cigarettes , which greatly increases the risk of coronary heart disease . If you smoke , quit . High blood cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease , and can be changed to a certain extent . Cholesterol can also be affected by risks that cannot be changed such as age , sex and heredity , but by exercising and controlling your diet , some of the “ bad ” cholesterol can be reduced , and “ good ” cholesterol can be increased . High blood pressure can increase your risk of stroke , heart attack , kidney failure and congestive heart failure . Though high blood pressure can be due to heredity in some cases , blood pressure is also affected by weight and smoking , which can be controlled .
Physical inactivity can increase the chances of heart disease . Working out on a regular basis , even at a moderate level can reduce the risk . People with diabetes have a much higher risk of heart disease or stroke , making it important to reduce other risk factors . Stress can also affect heart health . Find ways to reduce stress without adding other risk factors like smoking or overeating .
Whether you are at high risk and are searching for help with prevention , or are currently suffering with some form of cardiovascular disease , the following list is a sampling of many area organizations that provide resources or services for those affected by heart disease .
Go Red for Women - Nationally sponsored by Macy ’ s , Go Red for Women offers recipes , tips from celebrity trainers and other initiatives to help women eat healthier and lead a more heart-healthy lifestyle . Celebrities like Laverne Cox and Ciara have participated in the “ Red Dress ” initiatives to promote awareness of heart disease in women . goredforwomen . com
American Heart Association – An organization that has the latest news on heart disease , stroke and general health , and up-to-date recommendations for living longer with a healthier lifestyle . heart . org
Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital St . Louis helps patients with atrial fibrillation , heart attacks , heart failure , valve problems , stroke prevention and other diseases . ( 314 ) 251-1100 or mercy . net
Center for Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care , SSM Health , Saint Louis University Hospital delivers care for the treatment of coronary artery disease and heart failure from disease prevention to heart treatments and rehabilitation . ( 855 ) 974-3278 or sluheart . com
Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine – The Heart and Vascular Center provides help for aneurysms , heart rhythm disorders , cardiac surgery , heart disease prevention and a number of other heart-related services . Transplant Support and Resources offers heart , kidney and liver transplant surgeries . ( 314 ) 747-3000 or barnesjewish . org
Missouri Baptist – Heart specialists treat many cardiovascular-related conditions , like aneurysms , coronary artery disease , heart attack , vascular disease , and valve disease . ( 314 ) 996-3627 or missouribaptist . org
The Go Red for Women initiative is nationally sponsored by Macy ’ s and includes a variety of products “ sporting ” the red dress logo in support of the movement .
Women Heart is the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease , advocating early detection , accurate diagnosis and proper treatment . The organization provides education on symptoms of a heart attack for women , tips for care , angina and “ silent ” heart attacks . womenheart . org
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