Young Women and Heart Disease

♥ Heart disease is the number one killer of women age 20 and over.
♥ 6,050 women in the 35-44 age range die each year from cardiovascular disease (CVD).
♥ The most common form of CVD in young women is high blood pressure.
♥ Approximately 5.8 percent of women between the ages of 20-34 and 18.1 percent of women between the ages of 35-44 have high blood pressure.
♥ 10,000 women between the ages of 29-44 have a heart attack each year.
♥ Approximately 200 die of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) each year.
♥ The 2003 overall death rate from congenital cardiovascular defects was 1.4 per 100,000 persons.

10 Ways to Love your Heart

♥ Get regular checkups.
♥ Know your blood pressure an cholesterol numbers.
♥ Follow your doctor's recommendations for diet and exercise.
♥ Take prescribed medications as directed.
♥ If you smoke, quit now.
♥ Get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day. Join the 12-week physical fitness program at goredforwomen.org.
♥ Eat a heart-healthy diet, including fruits and vegetables, whole-grain foods and fish.
♥ Limit food high in saturated fats and dietary cholesterol.
♥ Limit your salt intake to 2300 mg of sodium a day.
♥ If you drink alcoholic beverages, drink in moderation - an average of no more than one drink a day for nonpregnant women.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women.
Take the Go Red Heart Checkup at www.GoRedForWomen.org to find out your risk.