Managing Your Risk
Manage Yourself
Smoking Cessation
Women smokers are two to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack as non-smoking women, and the risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked. Find a program that will make it possible for you to quit smoking.
Healthy Lifestyle
Good nutrition and at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days are essential to heart health. So is maintaining a healthy weight. A long-term study showed that even a modest gain of 11 to 17 pounds after age 18 significantly increases a woman’s risk of heart disease.
The MultiCare Center For Healthy Living offers a wide variety of classes to help you quit smoking and maintain a healthy weight.
Discuss With Your Doctor
High Blood Pressure Management
High blood pressure when untreated, increases the risk of heart disease and other heart problems, and is the most serious risk factor for stroke. Talk to your doctor and make sure your blood pressure is at the recommended level of 120/80 or lower.
Estrogen Replacement Therapy
After menopause, the body gradually stops producing estrogen — a hormone that reduces the risk of heart disease. See your doctor to find out if estrogen replacement therapy is right for you.
Cholesterol Management
About 25 percent of American women have blood cholesterol levels that pose a serious risk for heart disease. Talk to your doctor to make sure your total cholesterol level is under 200.
C-Reactive Protein
Elevated amounts of the C-Reactive protein, which can be detected through a blood test, may be a marker for heart disease. Consider having the test done if you fit the profile for women at risk.
Diabetes Management
Diabetes is a stronger risk factor for heart disease in women than in men, increasing risk three- to seven-fold. It may also double the risk of death from heart disease. Talk to your doctor if you have diabetes, or have a history of it in your family.
Homocysteine
High levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood may lead to serious heart problems. Homocysteine testing may be most valuable in evaluating the overall risk of heart disease for women who have a family history of heart disease but do not have other controllable risk factors.
It is important to discuss these risk factors with your physician or health care provider.